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Illuminated folio (verso) from a Gulistan (Rose Garden) of Sa'di (c. 1213–1291)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The border scene is set in a magical forest bursting with blossoms. At the top, a winged lion chases a winged deer, who is caught in the bottom border. The imagery of a lion biting down on its prey dates from the Achaemenid period in Iran (550–330 BCE) and references the valor of the king. A fox scurries off to the right. The verse is written in the Persian language using nastaliq script. Sultan ‘Ali Mashadi was widely renowned for perfecting the nastaliq script, and his calligraphy was a model for many followers across the Islamic world.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineIlluminated folio (verso) from a Gulistan (Rose Garden) of Sa'di (c. 1213–1291), calligraphy: c. 1475–1500; border: c. 1550. Calligraphy by Sultan 'Ali al-Mashadi (Iranian, 1430–1520). Gum tempera, ink, gold, and silver on paper; overall: 30 x 19 cm (11 13/16 x 7 1/2 in.); text area: 16.3 x 9.8 cm (6 7/16 x 3 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of William Kelly Simpson in memory of his wife Marilyn M. Simpson and her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller Jr., 2006.147.b
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