Poem (masnavi)
(Manuscripts and Rare Books, Islamic World , Islamic Manuscripts)
Walters manuscript W.642 is an illuminated copy of the well-known poem (masnavi) Subhat al-abrar (The rosary of the righteous) by Nur al-Din 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Ahmad Jami (died 898 AH/AD 1492), produced in Safavid Iran. The text, written in Nasta'liq script, was copied by Haydar al-Husayni in 965 AH/AD 1557-1558, according to the Arabic colophon (fol. 112a). The manuscript opens with an illuminated double-page incipit inscribed with the title of the work and the author's name. The subsequent pages have decorated borders and gold-sprinkled margins. The dark brown goatskin binding, which is original to the manuscript, has light brown doublures decorated with filigree work on a multi-colored ground. The original shelfmark of 3934 is inscribed on the tail edge of the codex.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Unknown collection [seal erased; original shelfmark of 3934 on on tail edge of codex]; Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
1984-1985 | Illuminated Manuscripts: Masterpieces in Miniature. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Geographies
Iran (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Folio H: 9 5/8 x W: 5 7/8 in. (24.5 x 15 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
W.642