Top of page

Manuscript/Mixed Material A praise of calligraphy

About this Item

Title

  • A praise of calligraphy

Names

  • Muhammad Riza al-Din

Created / Published

  • 1243/1828-9

Headings

  • -  Calligraphy, Arabic
  • -  Calligraphy, Persian
  • -  Manuscripts, Persian--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  Iran
  • -  Arabic script calligraphy
  • -  Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Islamic calligraphy
  • -  Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Nasta'liq

Notes

  • -  Verses praising the practice of calligraphy written by calligrapher Muhammad Riza al-Din from 19th cent. Qajar era Iran.
  • -  Around the border of the text panel, the calligrapher Muhammad Riza al-Din specifies that he wrote (katabahu) the verses in 1243/1828-9. He also states that the piece is written for his glory ('izz) and dignity (sharaf), if it is accepted (gar qabul aftad). Although Muhammad Riza al-Din is not known, he appears to have been a calligrapher in the nasta'liq style active in 19th-century Iran.
  • -  Dimensions of Written Surface: 10.3 (w) x 19 (h) cm
  • -  I have brought a small vow (for you to be like) Asaf of Jam / I have used garnet, ruby, and emerald / They have said that beautiful handwriting is better than garnet and gems / I have brought (you) a house-full of gems as an offering
  • -  Qit'a nazr-i Asaf-i Jam iqtidar avarda-am / La'l u yaqut u zumurrud-ra bi-kar avarda-am / Khatt-i khush-ra bahtar az la'l u javahir gufta-and / Yak javahirkhana-ra bahr-i nisar avarda-am
  • -  The poet describes a fragment of a vow to be similar to a fragment (qit'a) of calligraphy (khatt-i khush), and as a result this panel functions as an offering (nisar) as precious as all the gems in the world. The blue border decorated with flecks of gold serves as a visual echo to the poem's contents.
  • -  This calligraphic fragment includes several verses praising the practice of calligraphy. Beginning with an invocation of "God, the Great" (Allahu Akbar), the verses then read:
  • -  Script: nasta'liq
  • -  1-04-713.19.51

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 23.6 (w) x 36.5 (h) cm

Repository

  • Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714557

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Near East Section Persian Manuscript Collection

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Muhammad Riza Al-Din. A Praise of Calligraphy. /1828-9, 1828. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714557/.

APA citation style:

Muhammad Riza Al-Din. (1828) A Praise of Calligraphy. /1828-9. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714557/.

MLA citation style:

Muhammad Riza Al-Din. A Praise of Calligraphy. /1828-9, 1828. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714557/>.