Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Portrait of a Sufi

first quarter 17th century
Not on view
The primitive fur, the alms bowl, the flute, and the trance-like meditative state identify this figure as a dervish, or a sufi, a Muslim mystic who has renounced the material aspects of existence. The sense of abstract patterning in the fur and in the man's crossed limbs, combined with the distinctive palette featuring pink and sky blue, suggest an origin in the Deccan, possibly Bijapur. The invocation at the lower left, "Oh Prophet of the House of Hashim from thee comes help," referring to the prophet Muhammad, is in Persian.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Portrait of a Sufi
  • Date: first quarter 17th century
  • Geography: Attributed to India, Deccan, probably Bijapur
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Page: H. 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm)
    W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
    Painting: H. 8 7/8 in. (22.6 cm)
    W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Cora Timken Burnett, 1956
  • Object Number: 57.51.30
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Album Page with Découpé Calligraphy, Gouache on black paper with colored and white decoupage
Album Page with Découpé Calligraphy
1630–40
"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Painting attributed to Sultan Muhammad
ca. 1525
Panel from a Tent Lining (Qanat), Cotton; plain weave, mordant dyed and painted, resist-dyed
Panel from a Tent Lining (Qanat)
17th century
Qur'an Manuscript, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; leather binding
Qur'an Manuscript
dated 1268 AH/1851–52 CE
Garden Fountain, Brass; cast in sections, joined and engraved
Garden Fountain
early 17th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.