Book of Prayers
dated A.H. 1109/ 1697 CE
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm) W. 5 in. (12.7 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Shamina Talyarkhan, 2006
Accession Number
2006.543.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the luminous world of 17th-century Persian manuscript art with *Book of Prayers*, crafted by the skilled calligrapher Muhammad Kaziruni in 1697 CE (A.H. 1109). This compact codex, measuring just 7 3/4 by 5 inches, is a devotional treasure from the Safavid era, a period renowned for its patronage of exquisite Islamic manuscripts. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art department, it exemplifies the fusion of spirituality and artistry in prayer books (duʿā nāmas), designed for personal piety among the elite. Kaziruni's mastery shines through ink calligraphy, vibrant opaque wat...