Bifolium from a Qur'an Manuscript

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bifolium, or two facing pages, comes from a 15th-century'an manuscript, a sacred text central to Islamic faith. Crafted by an unknown artist during a golden age of Islamic book arts, it exemplifies the reverence for the written word in Muslim cultures. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Islamic Art Department (acquired through the Rogers Fund in 2), these pages measure 11 3/8 by 14 5/8 inches, typical for portable codices designed for personal devotion or study. The artistry shines through its medium of ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. Calligraphic script, rende...