Calligraphy: Preface to the Anvar-i Suhaili

c. 1590

Maker Unknown

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Calligraphy: Preface to the Anvar-i Suhaili, c. 1590. Northern India, Mughal court, 16th century. Ink on cream gold-decorated paper with gold-sprinkled blue paper borders, six lines of Persian calligraphy (verso); page: 36.1 x 24.8 cm (14 3/16 x 9 3/4 in.); text field: 16 x 8.3 cm (6 5/16 x 3 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 2013.303.b

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Maker Unknown
Classification: Calligraphy
Formatted Medium: ink on cream gold-decorated paper with gold-sprinkled blue paper borders, six lines of Persian calligraphy (verso)
Medium: ink, cream, gold-decorated, paper, gold-sprinkled, blue, borders, lines, persian, calligraphy, verso
Dimensions: Page: 36.1 x 24.8 cm (14 3/16 x 9 3/4 in.); Text field: 16 x 8.3 cm (6 5/16 x 3 1/4 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: Banyavati inscription in Devenagari script in left margin describing the subject of the miniature: 'We failed to understand each other when we were together, the understanding in that respect may come to us on being separated". Inscription: Persian text in nasta‘liq script: . . . and he also added illustrations and decorations and in truth an album was arranged that ever since the visage of rosy-cheeked beauties has been bedecked by their black sweet-smelling tresses, the like of the calligraphic lines that are written upon it have never been set upon any paper by a pen, and ever since the album of the sky has been illuminated by the luminosity of the moon and the sun, the light of the understanding . . .
Departments: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Accession Number: 2013.303.b
Credit Line: Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection
Rights Statement: CC0