Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja

Nizami|Maulana Azhar

ca. 1430 · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; lacquer binding · Islamic Art

The manuscript of the Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) was copied by Azhar, a pupil of Ja'far, in a fine nasta'liq that resembles that of his master. The volume opens with an illuminated shamsa, followed by a double-page illuminated frontispiece. Small illuminated panels bearing captions are found throughout the text, all in a style close to the illumination of Laila u Majnun (1994.232) but not quite so fine in the quality of drawing or clarity of pigment. The lacquer binding was added in India.

Artist

Nizami|Maulana Azhar

Date

ca. 1430

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; lacquer binding

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Alexander Smith Cochran, 1913