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Manuscript/Mixed Material Three Ghazals by Tabib Isfahani

About this Item

Title

  • Three Ghazals by Tabib Isfahani

Created / Published

  • 18th century

Headings

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

Notes

  • -  Three Ghazals (odes) by Tabib Isfahani, the physician to the Persian ruler Nadir Shah (r. 1736-47). Writen in the Shikastah-Nasta'liq scripts, most likely produced in India.
  • -  As Tabib Isfahani was a poet of the 12th/18th century, this fragment in all likelihood was executed during Nadir Shah's reign, that is, around the middle of the 18th century. As the ruler is best known for his invasions of Mughal India -- he sacked Delhi and Lahore and brought back the famous Peacock Throne to Iran -- this piece may have been executed while the ruler was based in India (1738-39). There, it was later remounted and perhaps included in an album of calligraphies.
  • -  Dimensions of Written Surface: 4.3 (w) x 13.7 (h) cm
  • -  The first ghazal rhymes with "payda" (found), the second ghazal rhymes with "ra" (the accusative marker), and the third ghazal rhymes with "aftada ast" (happened, occurred). All three ghazals describe the faithfulness of a lover and the sadness felt upon separation from the beloved. The lover describes his pain while simultaneously advising himself not to complain and to be patient in the face of adversity.
  • -  The text is executed in minute shikastah-nasta'liq script diagonally in two columns, separated with two plain vertical lines painted in gold. The text page is made of cream-colored paper and is framed with borders painted in purple, light green, and gold. The text and its frame are pasted to a larger sheet of pink paper backed with cardboard for strengthening.
  • -  This calligraphic fragment contains three lyrical poems (ghazals) by 'Abd al-Baqi known as Tabib Isfahani. He was a court physician (Tabib) to the Persian ruler Nadir Shah (r. 1736-47) and a prolific writer whose many verses form part of his "Divan" (Compendium of Poems). His signature (takhallus) "Tabib" appears in the verses.
  • -  Script: shikastah-nasta'liq
  • -  1-04-713.19.5

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 14.5 (w) x 25.2 (h) cm

Repository

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

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714555

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:

Three Ghazals by Tabib Isfahani. 18th Century. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714555/.

APA citation style:

Three Ghazals by Tabib Isfahani. 18th Century. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714555/.

MLA citation style:

Three Ghazals by Tabib Isfahani. 18th Century. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714555/>.