|
|
|
Part One: Eleanor Sims, with contributions by Manijeh Bayani,
J.M. Rogers and Tim Stanley
Part Two: Sheila S. Blair
The last two volumes of the four-volume catalogue of the non-Qur'anic
material in the Collection covers some 250 illustrated manuscript
and detached paintings from Iran and Turkey. The paintings, which
range in date from the early 14th to the 19th centuries, include
many items of major artisic importance.
The Collection contains several complete illustrated copies of Firdawsi's
Shahnamah. Most notable among them is a splendid copy with 62 miniatures
which is dated 1602. The presence of several Mughal seals and librarians'
notes shows that it later passed into the royal Mughal library.
Other illustrated manuscripts include several copies of the Khamsah
of Nizami; a Divan of Hafiz dated 1658 with superbly illuminated
margins and two exquisite paintings, one by Muhammadi and the other
by 'Abd Allah al-Mudhahhib al-Shirazi; and a Bustan of Sa'di which
was written in Tabriz in 1530, but was illuminated and bound in
Istanbul shortly afterwards, where the double-page frontispiece
was added.
The Collection includes a large group of detched paintings from
the 14th and 15th centuries. Two of the finest are probably a page
from the 'Great Mongol Shahnamah' and a long-lost 15th-century painting
depicting the Prophet Muhammad and his companions together with
Moses and the Virgin and Child.
Painting in Iran reached its zenith during the Safavid period, and
the Collection is fortunate in having examples of the works of most
of the greatest painters, including Muhammad Zaman, 'Ali Quli Jabadar,
Shaykh 'Abbasi, Muhammad Qasim, Riza 'Abbasi, and Mu'in Musavvir.
But pride of place belongs to the 8 folios from the Shahnamah painted
for Shah Tahmasp. These folios will be the subject of one of the
several important studies included in the volumes.
Ottoman paintings in the Collection include two folios from the
Siyer-i Nebi ('Life of the Prophet') painted for Sultan Murad III
in 1594-5; a copy of the Characteristics of the Ottoman Sulatns;
an Ottoman royal genealogy beginning with Adam up to the reign of
Mustafa II; and a drawing of a dragon in foliage in the style of
Shah Qulu.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Dr Eleanor Sims is an eminent scholar and a leading authority
on Persian painting; she is author of several works on the subject.
Dr Sheila S. Blair is an eminent scholar, author and lecturer, based
in Richmond, NH; she is editor of the Islamic section of the Dictionary
of Art.
DETAILS
(to be published)
fully illustrated in colour; section on documentary inscriptions
with translations
35.5 x 25.5 cm
hardback with dust jacket (slipcased)
£89 $180 (each)
Back to listing
|
