Panel of Nasta'liq Calligraphy

Sayyid Amir 'Ali

mid-17th century · Black ink on marbled paper · Islamic Art

This panel, written in Persian nasta’liq script, would originally have been mounted on an album page from which it is now detached. Here, verses by the Mughal court poet `Urfi have been executed in black ink on marbleized paper. The calligrapher, Sayyid Amir 'Ali has signed his name at the bottom of the panel. A native of Tabriz in Persia, Sayyid Amir 'Ali relocated to the Mughal court during the reign of Shah Jahan (r. 1628–58), where he was given the title Jawahar Raqam (Gemstone Pen) and appointed as instructor to the young Prince Aurangzeb (r.1658–1707).

Artist

Sayyid Amir 'Ali

Date

mid-17th century

Medium

Black ink on marbled paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, Persian Heritage Foundation Gift, and funds from various donors, 1999