Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja

1509–10

Not on view

Manuscripts from the Safavid capital, such as this copy of Nizami's Khamsa, are notable for their high-quality illumination and bindings. Characteristic of Persian doublures of this period is the contrasting colors of this example: the burgundy of the leather, the blue of the center and corner-pieces, and the gold gilding. Venetian Renaissance gilded leather bindings were particularly influenced by Safavid and Ottoman examples.

Artwork Details

Title: Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Author: Nizami (present-day Azerbaijan, Ganja 1141–1209 Ganja)
Date: 1509–10
Geography: Attributed to Iran, Shiraz
Medium: Leather; tooled and gilded; ink on paper
Dimensions: H. 11 1/2 (29.2 cm)
W. 7 5/16 in. (18.5 cm)
D. 1 9/16 in. (4 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Gift of Alexander Smith Cochran, 1913
Object Number: 13.228.6
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

By Nizami

In the same medium

From the same time and place

"Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin", Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin", Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Multiple artists/makers
dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE

Divan (Collected Works) of Jami, Maulana Nur al-Din `Abd al-Rahman Jami Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; leather binding — Divan (Collected Works) of Jami
Author Maulana Nur al-Din `Abd al-Rahman Jami
Calligrapher `Abd al-Karim al-Khwarazmi
ca. 1480

Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Leather; tooled and gilded; ink on paper — Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi
Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
1475–1675

"Bahram Gur on the Chase", Folio 10r from a Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "Bahram Gur on the Chase", Folio 10r from a Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Author Nizami
Calligrapher Maulana Azhar
ca. 1430

Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper — Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Author Nizami
15th century

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