Folio from a Falnama (Book of omens), recto: Prophet Muhammad's night journey (Mi'raj); verso: text

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At A Glance

  • Period

    mid 1550s-early 1560s
  • Geography

    Qazvin, Iran
  • Material

    Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W: 58.9 x 44.9 cm (23 3/16 x 17 11/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    S1986.253
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S1986.253

Object Details

  • Description

    Detached folio from a dispersed copy of Falnama (Book of omens); text: Persian in black nasta'liq script; recto: illustration: Prophet Muhammad's night journey to heaven (Mi'raj); verso: text, one column, eleven lines; one of a group of twenty folios.
  • Label

    The Ascent of the Prophet to Heaven is often conflated in Persian painting with a similar scene The Miraculous Night Journey of the Prophet. Although separate events, both depict Muhammad riding the fabled Buraq, a steed described as having a tail and feet like a camel's, a rump like a horse's, and an emerald saddle, pearl reins, and turquoise stirrups. The presence of the lion in the upper left corner of this painting, however, distinguishes the image from other portrayals of either the ascent to heaven or the night journey. The animal is a symbolic representation of Ali, the prophet's son-in-law, whom Shi´ites call the "lion of God."
  • Provenance

    ?-1942
    Henri Vever (1851-1942), method of acquisition unknown [1]
    1942-1947
    Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [2]
    1947-1986
    Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [3]
    From 1986
    The National Museum of Asian Art, by purchased from Francois Mautin [4]
    Notes:
    [1] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This object was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.
    [2] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the object. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.
    [3] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.
    [4] The Museum purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file. This work is part of the Museum’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection.
    Research updated on June 27, 2024
  • Collection

    Arthur M. Sackler Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Falnama: The Book of Omens (October 24, 2009 to January 24, 2010)
    The Divine Word of Islam (July 4, 1993 to January 2, 1994)
    A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (November 20, 1988 to April 30, 1989)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Henri Vever (1854-1942)
    Francois Mautin (1907-2003)
  • Origin

    Qazvin, Iran
  • Credit Line

    Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
  • Type

    Manuscript
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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