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Page with illuminated calligraphy, Hadith (Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad)
Calligrapher: Sayyid Meḥmed Vehbī (Ottoman, died 1731–32)
18th century
Object Place: Turkey
Medium/Technique
Ink, color and gold on paper; marbled paper
Dimensions
Height x width: 14.4 × 21.9 cm (5 11/16 × 8 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Helen and Alice Colburn Fund
Accession Number29.101
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Islamic Art
ClassificationsBooks and manuscripts
Ottoman calligraphers often demonstrated their skills by writing different styles and sizes of Arabic script on rectangular sheets of paper, which were then illuminated, mounted on pasteboard, and assembled with colored and marbled papers into accordion fold albums, known as muraqqaʿ. This undated calligraphic panel containing Hadith, or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, was composed using thuluth for the heading and naskh for the three small lines. The calligrapher, Sayyid Meḥmed Vehbī (d. 1731–1732), signed his name using the riqa' style of script. The panel is illuminated and bordered with marbled papers and gold margins.
DescriptionSingle folio; calligraphy in thuluth, naskh, and riqa' with illuminated decoration
ProvenanceMiss Elizabeth (Riefstahl) Titzel (b. 1889 - d. 1986), New York; 1929, sold by Miss Elizabeth (Riefstahl) Titzel to the MFA for $5000.00 (total price for 29.56-136). (Accession Date: January 3, 1929)