Artwork Page for Qur'an Manuscript Folio (verso); Text Page

Details / Information for Qur'an Manuscript Folio (verso); Text Page

Qur'an Manuscript Folio (verso); Text Page

1500s
Measurements
Sheet: 28 x 17.4 cm (11 x 6 7/8 in.); Text area: 19.6 x 10.6 cm (7 11/16 x 4 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view

Description

The Qur'an is the sacred book of Islam. In the view of orthodox Muslims, it is the literal word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (d. 632) in the Arabic language, and thus, recorded in the Arabic script. Because of its association with the divine word, Arabic calligraphy came to be a supreme art form in the Islamic world. As the quintessential symbol of the culture, it became a pervasive decorative element in Islamic art and architecture. Although secondary to calligraphy, a tradition of illumination—that is, ornamentation with colors and gold—developed to enhance the pages of the Qur'an. Because of the prestige associated with the book arts in the Islamic world, the decorative motifs employed by illuminators (scrolling vines, blossoms, lozenges, and cartouches) found their way into other art forms, for example, metalwork, textiles, and carpets.
A vertically oriented tan page features eleven rows of fluid black Arabic calligraphy. The rounded script is accented with small red, green, and gold diacritics, while circular gold medallions punctuate the text. The central composition is framed by thin blue and gold lines, set within wide, plain margins. A small circular museum stamp and handwritten numbers are visible in the corners of the page.

Qur'an Manuscript Folio (verso); Text Page

1500s

Afghanistan, Herat, Safavid period (1501–1722)

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