Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript

Unknown

second half 8th century · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on parchment · Islamic Art

This large early Abbasid Qur'an leaf in kufic script includes segments from suras of Ibrahim (sura 14) and the Rock (sura 15). The sixteen lines of text are penned in a distinct syle of kufic which priveleges horizontality over verticality. The letters are stretched horizontally along the baseline while descending letters are rounded like hooks making for a graphically striking overall effect. As in many early Qur'an folios, the vowels are marked with red and green dots and illumination is kept to a minimum.

Artist

Unknown

Date

second half 8th century

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on parchment

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Monir Farmanfarmaian in memory of Dr. Abolbashar Farmanfarmaian, 2021