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Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham of Balkh Visited by Angels
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham was the King of Balkh in present-day Afghanistan, born around 730, but later abdicated his throne to take up ascetic life in Syria. Sufi legends claim that Ibrahim in the wilderness was fed by angels. In the painting, Ibrahim can be seen in a cave and meditating under a tree, while five angles appear in front of him.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineSultan Ibrahim ibn Adham of Balkh Visited by Angels, c. 1740. Northwestern India, Rajasthan, Rajput Kingdom of Bundi. Gum tempera and gold on paper; page: 24.2 x 32.8 cm (9 1/2 x 12 15/16 in.); miniature: 17.2 x 25.7 cm (6 3/4 x 10 1/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 2018.160
