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Page of Calligraphy from an Anthology of Poetry by Sa`di and Hafiz

Author Sa'di Iranian
Author Hafiz Iranian
Calligrapher Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian
late 15th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455
The Museum owns eleven pages from a widely dispersed copy of Sa'di' s Gulistan (Rose Garden). Long appreciated for their animated and sumptuous borders, the pages also have first-rate nasta'liq script in colors and ink that can be attributed to Sultan 'Ali Mashhadi. The border drawings were added in 1525 or 1530 by top painters in Shah Tahmasp's atelier, indicating the high esteem in which this manuscript was held at the Safavid court at Tabriz.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Page of Calligraphy from an Anthology of Poetry by Sa`di and Hafiz
  • Author: Sa'di (Iranian, Shiraz ca. 1213–1291 Shiraz)
  • Author: Hafiz (Iranian, Shiraz ca. 1325–1390 Shiraz)
  • Calligrapher: Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi (Iranian, Mashhad 1453–1520 Mashhad)
  • Date: late 15th century
  • Geography: Attributed to present-day Afghanistan, Herat
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
    W. 7 1/2 in. (19 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911
  • Object Number: 11.84.8
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i, Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; lacquer binding
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"Dancing Dervishes", Folio from a Gulistan of Sa'di, Sa'di Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
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Sa'di
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