Album Page with Calligraphy Exercise (siyah mashq) by Muhammad Shah Qajar (3rd Ruler of the Qajar Dynasty)
dated Shawwal A.H. 1260/October 1844 CE
Medium
Ink, gold, and opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
H. 12 3/16 in. (31 cm) W. 7 11/16 in. (19.6 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, 2016
Accession Number
2016.535
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite album page showcases a *siyah mashq* exercise by Muhammad Shah Q, the third ruler of Qajar Dynasty (r. 1834–1848). Dated Shawwal A.H. 1260 (October 1844 CE), it bold, ink-drenched scripts in the elegant nasta'liq style, a hallmark of Persian calligraphy prized for its fluid curves and rhythmic flow. Crafted with ink, gold, and opaque on paper (31 x 19.6 cm), the piece exemplifies the luxurious materials typical of Islamic manuscripts, where gold accents lend a regal shimmer. Siyah mashq, meaning "black exercise," was a rigorous practice technique where calligraphers applied thi...