Anthology with works by Jalal ad-Din Rumi (d.1273), Nizami (d. 1209), Sa'di (d.1292) and Sana'i (d. 1131 or 1140)

Object Details

• Calligrapher

  Mir Ali Husayni (died ca.1544)

  Sultan Muhammad Nur (fl. as early as 1494)

  Muhammad Qasim ibn Shadishah

  Sultan-Muhammad Khandan

  Mawlana Shaykh Mahmud

• Artist

  Kamal al-Din Bihzad (ca. 1467-1535)

• Patron

  Wazir Khawja Malik Ahmad

• Description

  Manuscript; Anthology of four texts: Mathnawi by Rumi, Khamsa (Quintet) by Nizami, Bustan (the Orchard) by Sa'di, and Hadiqat al-haqiqat (Garden of truth) by Sana'i; Persian in black minute nasta'liq script; headings in gold and red; 69 folios, 1 flyleaf with inscriptions and seals, 1 shamsa (fol. 3 recto), 4 sarlawh (fols.3 verso, 29 verso, 48 verso, 55 verso); 6 gold stenciled floral design folios with no writing (fols. 28 verso, 29 recto, 47 verso, 48 recto, 54 verso and 55 recto), 1 painting (fol. 3 recto) 4 colophons (fols. 28 recto, 47 recto, 54 recto and 69 verso), and 1 endleaf (fol. 69 verso); inscriptions (fols. flyleaf, 3 recto, 28 recto, 54 recto, 69 recto); standard page: 4 columns, 21 lines of text.

  Binding: The manuscript is bound in leather over paper pasteboards with gold block-stamped exterior covers; the doublures contain medallions and corner pieces of gold filigree on a green and blue ground.

• Marks

  Mughal library seals on fly leaf and folio 69 recto; obliterated seal on folio 68 verso.

• Inscriptions

  Flyleaf:

  "God is greatest. This collection, which is a selection of four books, is my personal property. Value: Rs. 3,000, and it is in pointed miniscule script, better than which has not been written."

  "God is greatest. On the 5th of Azar [regnal] year I [this book] entered the library of this petitioner at the divine court. Nuruddin Jahangir Shah son of Akbar Padishah."

  "In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful. This precious collection, which contains a selection from the Mathnawi [of Jalaluddin Rumi] and a selection from the Hadiqa [Hadiqat al-haqiqat by Sana'i] and others, entered the library of this petitioner at the divine court on the 25th of Bahman, corresponding to the 8th of Jumada II 1037 [February 14, 1628], which is the day of [my] blessed accession. Written by Shihabuddin Muhammad Shahjahan Padishah son of Jahangir Padishah son of Akbar Padishah. Value: Rs. 4,000."

  Fol. 3recto, margin:

  "Selection from the Mathnawi written by Mir Ali, selection from the Khamsa of Nizami written by Sultan Muhammad Nur, selection from Sa'di's Bustan written by Muhammad Qasim b. Shadishah, selection from the Hadiqa of Hakim Sana'i written by Sultan Muhammad Khandan was [inspected] in Rabi'I 1232 [Jan. 1817]."

  Fol. 3recto, painting: "Depicted by the slave Bihzad"

  Fol. 28 recto:

  "Written by the poor slave Ali al-Husayni, may God forgive his faults, in the year 930 [1523-24] in the city of Herat."

  Fol. 54 recto:

  "Completed at the hand of the poor sinful slave, Muhammad Qasim b. Shadishah."

  Fol. 69 recto:

  Fol. 69 recto:

• Label

  The small, circular composition set in an illuminated border appears in a poetic anthology, copied in minute and exquisite nasta'liq script. The text surrounding Bihzad's composition is from the celebrated Mathnavi by Rumi (died 1273) and relates how an old man cautions a youth against excessive pride and arrogance. More loosely painted and less detailed than some of Bihzad's other works, the illustration brilliantly contrasts the frailty of the old sage (on the right) with the elegant appearance of the conceited youth in an orange robe. This painting is probably one of Bihzad's last known works.

  Kamal-uddin Bihzad

  One of the most celebrated painters at the court of Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara (reigned 1470-1506) was Kamal-uddin Bihzad (circa 1467-1535). Orphaned at a young age, Bihzad was reared and trained by Aqa Mirak, another renowned painter in Herat. Towards the end of his life, Bizhad, who became known as the "rarity of his time," moved to Tabriz in northwestern Iran, where he died in 1535. Bihzad and his contemporaries are largely accredited with introducing a new sense of naturalism into Timurid painting. In addition to refining the spatial clarity and ornamental elaboration of earlier fifteenth-century painting, Bihzad incorporated lively scenes from everyday life into his compositions. His carefully delineated figures show considerable psychological depth and seem to occupy real space. These new conventions, however, should not be confused with the interest in naturalism found in Western painting, for Bihzad and his fellow artists still worked within the strict conventions of traditional Persian painting.

  Bihzad signed only a few works, but because of his legendary status, especially after his death, numerous compositions have been erroneously ascribed to him. Among the three paintings on view, An Old Man and a Youth is a rare signed work, believed to be one of the artist's last compositions. The other two have been firmly attributed to the master.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Nasta’liq: The Genius of Persian Calligraphy (September 13, 2014 to May 3, 2015)

  Worlds within Worlds: Imperial Paintings from India and Iran (July 28 to September 16, 2012)

  In the Realm of Princes: The Arts of the Book in Fifteenth Century Iran and Central Asia (March 19 to August 7, 2005)

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

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

  Art of the Court of Shah Tahmasp (December 16, 1979 to August 14, 1980)

  Art of the Near East (August 21, 1977 to December 14, 1979)

  2500 Years of Persian Art—Paintings, Pottery (February 10, 1972 to June 15, 1973)

  Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Pottery (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)

  Near Eastern Art (June 5, 1964 to August 18, 1967)

  Special Exhibition Afghanistan (September 3, 1963 to June 5, 1964)

  Special Exhibition (February 9, 1954 to April 20, 1954)

  Special Exhibition, Near Eastern Art (September 15, 1953 to February 9, 1954)

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

• Origin

  Herat, Afghanistan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1500s, 1610s, 1600s, 1590s, 1540s, 1650s, 1530s, 1640s, 1520s, 1630s, 1510s, 1620s, 1580s, 1730s, 1690s, 1570s, 1680s, 1560s, 1670s, 1550s, 1660s

• Name

  Bihzad, Kamal al-Din, Malik Ahmad, Wazir Khawja, Sultan Muhammad Nur, Muhammad Qasim ibn Shadishah, Mawlana Shaykh Mahmud, Mir Ali Husayni, Sultan-Muhammad Khandan

• Place

  Afghanistan, Herat

• Topic

  S?afavid dynasty, 1501-1736, Art, Arts of the Islamic World, Anthology, Illumination, Poetry

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Language

  Nasta?li-q script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts