Title: Hilyah, Combined with magic Squares
Date: 19th century
Location: Iran
Materials: ink, gold and opaque watercolour on thin paper
Dimensions: 61.5 x 50.3cm
Accession Number: CAL 302
Other Notes:
The text of the hilyah, which occupies the lower half of the central rectangle, lists 15 characteristics (shama’il) of the Prophet, each with a Persian translation. The terms used differ from those of the traditional text attributed to ‘Ali, being taken instead from al-Qalqashandi’s Subh al-A‘sha.
Qur’anic verses, short surahs and the Names of God are arranged in magic squares and roundels, occasionally with numeric values. The ‘Throne Verse’ from the surah al-Baqarah (II, verse 255) and the ‘Light Verse’ from the surah al-Nur (XXIV, verse 35) are arranged in cartouches in the borders.
Script:
written in riqa‘, naskh and nasta‘liq scripts
Bibliography:
N.F. Safwat, The Art of the Pen. Calligraphy of the 14th to 20th Centuries, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, volume V, London 1996, cat.39, pp.67–8.
Zoom
Close
Create your own collection of artworks that you can print or save as a PDF. Please enter you email to enable feature.
Small Flask | JLY 1075
Has been added to your collection.
TIP:
You can now access and view your collection from the main menu at any time.
