Double-page painting in the Haft Manzar (Seven visages) by Hatifi (d.1521)

Object Details

• Calligrapher

  Mir Ali Haravi (died ca. 1550)

• Artist

  Signed by Shaykhzada

• Label

  During much of the sixteenth century, the region of Transoxiana, present-day Uzbekistan, was controlled by the Shaybanid Uzbeks, a Turkish-speaking dynasty. This finely illustrated and illuminated manuscript was completed for Sultan Abu'l Ghazi Abdul Aziz Bahadur Khan (1534-1539), the fourth Shaybanid ruler and one of the most influential patrons of the arts of the book. Abdul Aziz Bahadur Khan gathered together the leading Persian calligraphers, painters, and illuminators, some of whom joined the court voluntarily, while others were brought by force.

  The most celebrated artist was Shaykhzada, who is also responsible for the paintings in the Haft manzar. Trained by the legendary Timurid artist Behzad, Shaykhzada elaborated on late-fifteenth-century Timurid style by enhancing the jewel-like surfaces of his work.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

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

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

  From Concept to Context: Approaches to Asian and Islamic Calligraphy (July 28, 1986 to February 6, 1987)

  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)

  Near Eastern Art (June 15, 1973 to May 7, 1975)

  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)

  Exhibition of Persian Art (April to May 1940)

• Origin

  Bukhara, Uzbekistan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1530s

• Name

  Haravi, Ali, Shaykhzada

• Place

  Bukhara, Uzbekistan

• Topic

  Art, Arts of the Islamic World, Uzbek period (1500 - 1598)

• Culture

  Muslims

• Object Type

  Manuscripts