Poem written in Nastaliq, pasted on an album leaf
(Calligraphy) Iran; c. 1516
(Album leaf) India; 17th century
Inventory number 17/1987
Muslim princes were avid collectors of the art of the famous calligraphers. This poem was pasted on a leaf in an Indian album that – judging from the margin painting – was made in the last quarter of the 17th century.
The beautiful Nastaliq script originated in Timurid Iran, but in time became the dominant script for copying poetry at the Safavid, Mughal, and Ottoman courts.
In a melancholy poem, the calligrapher Sultan Ali Mashhad (died 1519) bewails his old age and remembers his youth, when his hands brought him honor and gold. He was a master specifically of Nastaliq, and had been employed by the Timurid sultan Husayn Bayqara.
The beautiful Nastaliq script originated in Timurid Iran, but in time became the dominant script for copying poetry at the Safavid, Mughal, and Ottoman courts.
In a melancholy poem, the calligrapher Sultan Ali Mashhad (died 1519) bewails his old age and remembers his youth, when his hands brought him honor and gold. He was a master specifically of Nastaliq, and had been employed by the Timurid sultan Husayn Bayqara.
Published in
Published in
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat. 8;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat. 104;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat. 16;
Joachim Meyer, Rasmus Bech Olsen and Peter Wandel: Beyond words: calligraphy from the World of Islam, The David Collection, Copenhagen 2024, cat. 49, pp. 186-187;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat. 104;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat. 16;
Joachim Meyer, Rasmus Bech Olsen and Peter Wandel: Beyond words: calligraphy from the World of Islam, The David Collection, Copenhagen 2024, cat. 49, pp. 186-187;
