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Islamic Manuscripts

The Walters’ collection of Islamic Manuscripts showcases masterpieces of illuminated and illustrated manuscripts. The sacred, devotional and non-religious manuscripts presented here were created across the breadth of the Islamic world and date from the 9th through the 19th century. In the Islamic book, the primary vehicle for literary and artistic expression, the powers of poetry, prayer and visual form collide. They bear witness to remarkable achievements in literature and the book arts. Examples include a 15th-century Koran from northern India, executed at the height of the Timurid empire; a luxurious 16th-century copy of the Khamsa by Amir Khusraw, illustrated by a number of famous artists for the emperor Akbar; and a Turkish calligraphy album by Sheik Handullah al Amasi, one of the greatest calligraphers. 

All images of Islamic manuscripts were created and are provided through a Preservation and Access grant awarded to The Walters Art Museum by the National Endowment for the Humanities, 2008-2010.

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Image for Collected Works (Kulliyat)

Collected Works (Kulliyat)

934 AH/AD 1527 (Safavid)
W.617
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Image for Five Poems (Quintet)

Five Poems (Quintet)

934-935 AH/AD 1528-1529 (Safavid)
W.607
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Image for Five Poems (Quintet)

Five Poems (Quintet)

935 AH/AD 1529 (Safavid)
W.622
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Image for Prayer Book

Prayer Book

941 AH/AD 1534
W.579
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Image for Collection of Poems (divan)

Collection of Poems (divan)

946 AH/AD 1539 (Safavid)
W.631
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Image for Single Leaf of a Man Spinning Cotton

Single Leaf of a Man Spinning Cotton

Iranian Artist
mid 10th century AH/AD 16th century (Safavid)
W.746
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Image for Single Leaf of a Mounted Figure Attacked by a Lion

Single Leaf of a Mounted Figure Attacked by a Lion

Iranian Artist
mid 10th century AH/AD 16th century (Safavid)
W.747
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Image for Collection of Poems (divan)

Collection of Poems (divan)

958 AH/AD 1552 (Safavid)
W.629
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Image for Poem (masnavi)

Poem (masnavi)

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Image for Gloss on Commentary on the Qur'an

Gloss on Commentary on the Qur'an

966 AH/AD 1558 (Ottoman)
W.584
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Image for Collection of Poems (divan)

Collection of Poems (divan)

966 AH/AD 1559 (Safavid)
W.630
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Image for Commentary on an Abridgment of the Canon of Medicine

Commentary on an Abridgment of the Canon of Medicine

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Image for Five Poems (Quintet)

Five Poems (Quintet)

Manuscript: 971 AH/AD 1563; Some Miniatures: 13th century AH/AD 19th century (Safavid; Qajar)
W.608
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Image for History of Nigaristan

History of Nigaristan

5 Shawwal 976 AH/AD 1569 (Safavid)
W.598
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Image for Poem (Masnavi)

Poem (Masnavi)

978 AH/AD 1570-1571 (Safavid)
W.656
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Image for Two Works of Sa`di: The Rose Garden (Gulistan) and The Orchard (Bustan)

Two Works of Sa`di: The Rose Garden (Gulistan) and The Orchard (Bustan)

980 AH/AD 1572 (Safavid)
W.619
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Image for Single Leaf of an Elephant with Mahout Attacking Four Men

Single Leaf of an Elephant with Mahout Attacking Four Men

late 10th century AH/AD 16th century (Mughal)
W.702
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Image for Single Leaf of a Battle Scene from the Baburnamah

Single Leaf of a Battle Scene from the Baburnamah

Indian Artist
Folio: late 10th century AH/AD 16th century; Borders: 13th century AH/AD 19th century (Mughal)
W.683
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Image for Album of Persian and Indian Calligraphy and Paintings

Album of Persian and Indian Calligraphy and Paintings

late 10th century AH/AD 16th century-13th century AH/AD 19th century (Mughal; Safavid; Qajar)
W.668
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Image for Single Leaf of Elephants on a River Bank

Single Leaf of Elephants on a River Bank

Indian Artist
late 10th century AH/AD 16th-early 11th century AH/AD 17th century (Mughal)
W.685
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Image for Two Works on Precious Stones

Two Works on Precious Stones

989 AH/AD 1581 (Ottoman)
W.589
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Image for Single Leaf of a Portrait of Shah Abbas I

Single Leaf of a Portrait of Shah Abbas I

Indian Artist
Painting: 18th century; Calligraphy: 1582-1583 (Safavid)
W.713
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Image for Poems (tarji'band)

Poems (tarji'band)

998 AH/AD 1589-1590 (Safavid, Qajar)
W.651
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Image for Youth with a Falcon

Youth with a Falcon

Iranian Artist
late 10th century AH/AD 16th century-early 11th century AH/AD 17th century (Safavid)
W.682
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Image for Single Leaf of Plowing and Selling Produce

Single Leaf of Plowing and Selling Produce

late 10th century AH/AD 16th century-early 11th century AH/AD 17th century (Safavid)
W.749
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Image for The Tale of the Man in the Well from the 'Iyar-i Danish (Touchstone of Wisdom) of Abu al-Fazl

The Tale of the Man in the Well from the 'Iyar-i Danish (Touchstone of Wisdom) of Abu al-Fazl

late 10th century AH/AD late 16th century (Mughal)
W.692
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Image for Three Short Sufi Works

Three Short Sufi Works

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Image for Five Poems (Quintet)

Five Poems (Quintet)

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Image for Two Folios from the Akbarnama

Two Folios from the Akbarnama

late 10th century AH/AD 16th century (Mughal)
W.684
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Image for Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusraw Dihlavi

Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusraw Dihlavi

1597-1598 (Mughal)
W.624
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Image for Single Leaf of the Virgin and Child

Single Leaf of the Virgin and Child

Indian Artist
1600-1625 (Mughal)
W.903
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