id: 149083
accession number: 1977.207
share license status: CC0
url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1977.207
updated: 2023-03-11 20:51:08.135000
Page from the Late Shah Jahan Album: Persian Calligraphy Framed by an Ornamental Border of Flowers and Birds, c. 1500 to 1540. Mir 'Ali. Opaque watercolor, gold and ink on paper; overall: 36.8 x 25.2 cm (14 1/2 x 9 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Herbert F. Leisy in memory of his wife, Helen Stamp Leisy 1977.207
title: Page from the Late Shah Jahan Album: Persian Calligraphy Framed by an Ornamental Border of Flowers and Birds
title in original language:
series:
series in original language:
creation date: c. 1500 to 1540
creation date earliest: 1495
creation date latest: 1545
current location:
creditline: Gift of Herbert F. Leisy in memory of his wife, Helen Stamp Leisy
copyright:
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culture: India, Mughal court, reign of Shah Jahan (1628-1658) (album page and borders); probably Afghanistan, Herat (calligraphy), Mughal Dynasty (1526-1756)
technique: Opaque watercolor, gold and ink on paper
department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
collection: Indian Art
type: Painting
find spot:
catalogue raisonne:
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CREATORS
* Mir 'Ali - artist
Persian, active in Afghanistan and Uzbekistan
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measurements: Overall: 36.8 x 25.2 cm (14 1/2 x 9 15/16 in.)
state of the work:
edition of the work:
support materials:
inscriptions:
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS
* Indian Minature Rotation (Gallery 115); August 18, 2004 - May 23, 2005.
Main Gallery Rotation (gallery 245): April 28, 2015 - November 2, 2015.
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PROVENANCE
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fun fact:
digital description:
wall description:
Works of the celebrated calligrapher Mir 'Ali were favored for inclusion in the Late Shah Jahan Album, possibly because of his links to the dynasty founded by the Mughals' ancestor Timur (1336- 1405). This calligraphy page was more than 100 years old when it was set into the imperial album and given a border exquisitely rendered with scrolling floral vines bearing birds and deer. The prominence of calligraphy and poetry in Mughal albums is an indication of how these Turkic rulers of India revered Persian literary arts. The central poem by the Persian poet Ibn-I Yamin (1286-1368) calls for stoicism rather than fear of unexpected calamities. It is framed by four small panels containing verses from a love song by the Persian poet Amir Shahi Sabezavari, who died in 1453. They read:
Ever since knotted locks of your hair were tied around your throat,
My neck has also been chained by your tresses.
Henceforth my lot is to lament and cry,
sounding like the [awakening] caravan bell,
Protesting against these fellow travelers who have tied a heavy load on a nightingale.
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RELATED WORKS
id: 124164
Portrait of Asaf Khan (1569–1641), from the Late Shah Jahan Album, c. 1653. Mughal India, court of Shah Jahan (1627–58). Gum tempera and gold on paper; image: 19 x 11.9 cm (7 1/2 x 4 11/16 in.); overall: 38 x 24.8 cm (14 15/16 x 9 3/4 in.); with mat: 49 x 36.3 cm (19 5/16 x 14 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1945.168
relationship:
id: 146186
Page from the Late Shah Jahan Album: Prince and Ascetics, c. 1630. Attributed to Govardhan (Indian, active c.1596-1645). Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper; image: 20.3 x 14.3 cm (8 x 5 5/8 in.); sheet with border: 37.5 x 25.2 cm (14 3/4 x 9 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 1971.79
relationship:
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CITATIONS
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IMAGES
web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1977.207/1977.207_web.jpg
print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1977.207/1977.207_print.jpg
full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1977.207/1977.207_full.tif