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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

More Artwork

More Artwork
Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i, Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; lacquer binding
Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i
Calligrapher Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
1499–1500
Page of Calligraphy from an Anthology of Poetry by Sa`di and Hafiz, Sa'di Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Page of Calligraphy from an Anthology of Poetry by Sa`di and Hafiz
Author Sa'di
Author Hafiz
Calligrapher Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
late 15th century
"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
"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
Velvet with Figural Imagery, Silk, metal wrapped thread; cut and voided velvet
Velvet with Figural Imagery
mid-16th century

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