recto: "Portrait of Raja Suraj Singh Rathor", verso: Page of Calligraphy. Folio from the Shah Jahan Album

Painting by Bishan Das
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
recto: late 16th century; verso: ca. 1640
Not on view
verso: This panel of calligraphy conforms closely to the type probably established by the celebrated calligrapher Sultan 'Ali about forty or fifty years earlier. The border illumination is signed by the artist Daulat, who executed paintings and marginalia for three generations of Mughal emperors, from Akbar to Shah Jahan. Mir 'Ali was both the calligrapher and author of the lines written here:

One with the eye of gazelles
hunted the bird of my heart,
Robbed me of steadfastness,
robbed me, poor lover, of rest.
Counsel and good advice
is no longer of use–
There is no use anymore,
friends, in counseling me!
The poor 'Ali.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: recto: "Portrait of Raja Suraj Singh Rathor", verso: Page of Calligraphy. Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
  • Artist: Painting by Bishan Das
  • Calligrapher: Mir 'Ali Haravi (died ca. 1550)
  • Date: recto: late 16th century; verso: ca. 1640
  • Geography: Attributed to India
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 15 1/4 in. (38. 7 cm)
    W. 10 1/16 in. (25.6 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund and The Kevorkian Foundation Gift, 1955
  • Object Number: 55.121.10.7
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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