Curator

  • Art Institute Chicago
  • Harvard art museum
  • My Exhibition
Double illuminated opening pages from a Qur'an, sura 1

Double illuminated opening pages from a Qur'an, sura 1

Persian

These two illuminated folios are double-page opening folios of a Qur'an. Sura I (the opening chapter, Fatiha) is written in white color in the middle part of the illuminated pages. The illumination consists of a complex scheme of cartouches and intersecting lines using two tones of gold and a dominant lapis blue. Some loss and deterioration of colors is visible. The margins are not original.

Gold and watercolor on paper.

Safavid period

Manuscripts