Page of Calligraphy from an Anthology of Poetry by Sa`di and Hafiz
late 15th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H.11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm) W. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911
Accession Number
11.84.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite page of calligraphy hails from a late 15th-century anthology of poetry by two Persian literary giants, Sa'di and Hafiz, masterfully penned by the renowned calligrapher Sultan ' al-Mashhadi. Created during the Timurid era in Persia (modern-day Iran), when Herat was a vibrant center of Islamic arts, it exemplifies the pinnacle of manuscript production. Sa'di (d. 1291) and Hafiz (d. 1390) were beloved poets whose verses on love, mysticism, and human folly resonated deeply in Sufi and courtly circles, making such anthologies prized treasures for scholars and nobles. The medium—ink,...