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Single Leaf from the Arabic Version of Dioscorides' De materia medica
(Manuscripts and Rare Books, Islamic World , Islamic Manuscripts)
Walters leaf W.675 is a single leaf from a dispersed manuscript (Aya Sofya 3703, later Top Kapi Seray 2147) of the Arabic version of De materia medica by Dioscorides (active ca. 65) that was copied in 621 AH/AD 1224 in Baghdad. Approximately 30 illustrations were removed from this parent manuscript that are now in public and private collections. The Walters' leaf depicts two doctors preparing medicine. A funnel is set on a tripod over a vessel. The two men preparing the medicinal draught stand on either side of the tripod beside two fruit trees. The text is written in partially vocalized Naskh script in brownish-black and red ink.
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.
Library of Aya Sofya, Istanbul, no. 3703 [1]. Acquired by Fredrik Robert Martin [1868-1933], Stockholm, before 1912 [2]. Acquired by Max Williams [d. 1927 (?)], New York [3]. Acquired by Dikran Kelekian [1868-1951], New York [4]; acquired by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1928; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
[1] Removed from manuscript likely late 19th-early 20th century
[2] See Martin, “Miniature Painting and Painters of Persia, India and Turkey” (1912)
[3] Label on paper removed from verso: “Max Williams / 538 Madison Avenue / Between 54th and 55th Street / New York / No. A5529
[4] Photograph in curatorial file labeled “Kelekian 1928”
Exhibitions
| 2016 | Court and Cosmos: The Great Age of the Seljuqs. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. |
| 1984-1985 | Illuminated Manuscripts: Masterpieces in Miniature. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Loan Consideration | examined for loan | |
| 11/19/2015 | Treatment | media consolidation |
Geographies
Iraq, Baghdad (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 13 3/16 × W: 9 13/16 in. (33.5 × 24.9 cm); Framed, approx H: 21 1/4 × W: 16 1/4 × D: 1 1/4 in. (53.98 × 41.28 × 3.18 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.675
