Folio from a Divan (collected poems) by Sultan Ahmad Jalayir (d.1410); recto: Pastoral scene; verso: text

Object Details

• Description

  Detached folio from a Divan (Collected poems) by Sultan Ahmad Jalayir; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script, headings in Arabic in red and blue nasta'liq; recto: Pastoral scene, figures in landscape, two columns, 14 lines; verso: text, two columns, 14 lines, 48 lines of marginal text; one of a group of 9: the manuscript, its separated cover (F1932.29), and 7 detached folios (F1932.31-37) are accessioned separately.

• Inscriptions

  Translation of poem written on face of page:

  The first poem on the page written in nasta'liq script in two stanzas of nine lines, each ending in the same word may be freely translated as follows:

  It is again the dawn with all its splendor.

  When our gaze meets it, again we bow in adoration.

  The candles of the banquet are ashes again;

  The sun in its beauty scatters gold and gives breath to life

  And weary of the silver cold of night

  The flowers full of its warmth appear

  And again we see the garden in all its radiance.

  As I turn my eyes to the tall cypress

  I cry to Thee

  "What water and air have nourished such

  grandeur?

  Is it the new moon with its ever-changing

  beauty

  Casting its spirit on the air and water?"

  In all nature's diversities the traveler

  on the road

  Reveres and worships its causes and finds always

  love again

  And all the searchers of wisdom and knowledge

  In all their works find only love.

  O Master of this temple, make it strong

  with Thy skill

  That this temple may ever be in its place

  For Ahmad, things are transitory and love is human

  And all will fall into the river of annihilation.

  Who can penetrate the truth of the Divine

  Who can penetrate the truth of the Divine

• Label

  Among the Persian manuscripts in the Freer Gallery is a rare volume of poetry written by Sultan Ahmad, the last ruler of the Jalayirid dynasty (Iraq and western Iran, 1336-1410). The sultan's poems concern mystical themes, extolling divine love and praising God the creator. They are set off in this manuscript of the Diwan by eight delicate tinted drawings that seem to grow out from under the text panel and into the margins.

  Although these unusual scenes do not directly depict their nearest verses, they do evoke the idea of man's quest for spiritual enlightenment, a theme common to virtually all Persian mystical poetry. This particular scene has been interpreted as the first stage in the spiritual journey in search of Divine wisdom. This work also epitomizes the classical style of Persian painting that began to develop in the second half of the fourteenth century under the auspices of royal patrons such as Sultan Ahmad Jalayirid.

• Provenance

  From at least 1912-at least 1926

  Fredrik Robert Martin (1868-1933), purchased from unidentified dealer in Constantinople [1]

  About 1926-1931

  Ownership information unknown

  From at least 1931-1932

  Jacob Hirsch, Ph.D. , New York, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1932

  The Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Dr. Jacob Hirsch, New York [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See “Miniatures from the Period of Timur in Manuscripts of the Poems of Sultan Ahmad Jalair” [book] (Vienna: printed for the author, 1926), p. 10, pl. I. See also p. 27, where Martin recounts buying the manuscript in Constantinople in November 1912. It is unclear when, or to whom, he sold it. Martin was a Swedish diplomat, scholar, collector, art historian and author. Martin documented his journeys in numerous books.

  [2] See Laurence Binyon, J.V.S. Wilkinson and Basil Grey, “Persian Miniature Painting: Including a Critical Descriptive catalogue of the Miniatures Exhibited at Burlington House, January-March, 1931” [book] (London: Oxford University Press, 1933), p. 63 no. 36. The manuscript is “Lent by Jacob Hirsch, Geneva”, and “The last eight pages have the borders filled with line drawings and touched with gold and light colour. (These were shown separately at the Exhibition, mounted and framed.)”.

  Dr. Jacob Hirsch (1874-1955) was a collector of coins, medals, and classical art, as well as a dealer of archaeological objects. He had an eponymous gallery in New York, as well as businesses in Switzerland and Paris. See purchase file F1932.29 for J.E. Lodge letter to Dr. J. Hirsch dated April 9, 1932, wherein Lodge writes that he would come to New York to see the manuscript, implying it is already in the U.S. See also January 4, 1932 letter from M. Aga-Oglu, of the Detroit Institute of Arts, to Dr. Hirsch, noting that he had studied the manuscript and was enclosing it, with the miniatures, for return to Hirsch.

  [3] The Freer Gallery of Art paid Dr. Jacob Hirsch in installments, the first on August 1, 1932, and the last on July 3, 1933, and marked approved on June 28, 1932. See object file for copy of invoices.

  Research completed December 16, 2022

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Islamic Art (May 9, 1993 to June 3, 1997)

  From the Hand of Mani (January 18, 1985 to July 5, 1985)

  Nastaliq Calligraphy (September 23, 1982 to January 20, 1984)

  The Brush of the Masters: Drawings from Iran (October 14, 1978 to May 30, 1979)

  Near Eastern Art (January 1, 1963 to August 18, 1967)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian Paintings and Ceramics (May 5, 1933 to January 9, 1945)

  International Exhibition of Persian Art (January 7 to March 7, 1931)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Fredrik Robert Martin (1868-1933)

  Dr. Jacob Hirsch (1874?-1955)

• Origin

  Baghdad, Iraq

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s, 1300s

• Name

  Dr. Jacob Hirsch, Martin, Fredrik Robert

• Place

  Baghdad

• Topic

  Divan, Landscapes, Art, Farmers, Goose, Jalayirid dynasty (1340 - 1432), Cows, Arts of the Islamic World, Mongol period (1220 - 1380), Poetry

• Culture

  Muslims, Iraqis

• Object Type

  Manuscripts