Page from the Koran c. 1350

treasure map

aged paper

toned paper

parchment

old engraving style

tea stained

personal sketchbook

egypt

watercolour illustration

sketchbook art

watercolor

This page from the Koran, created around 1350, showcases the beauty of Islamic calligraphy. The artist, anonymous, has skillfully rendered the Arabic script in black ink on a cream-colored parchment, employing a variety of decorative elements. The text is highlighted with gold and red, which emphasize key phrases and verses. This page exemplifies the artistic excellence achieved in the production of Korans during the medieval period, where Islamic religious texts were not only functional but also works of art. The intricate details and elegant script reflect the reverence for the sacred words of the Koran.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This exquisite manuscript page typifies the artistic and technical virtuosity accorded illuminated books during the Mamluk period (1250-1517). By the 13th century, more cursive writing styles had replaced kufic as the preferred Koranic script. The main body of the text is written in a cursive style commonly called muhaqqaq script, characterized by tall, slender verticals and sweeping sublinear strokes. The chapter heading, framed in gold and vegetal ornamentation, is in thuluth script. Sultans and amirs commissioned mostly large Korans for the specific mosques and religious foundations they endowed. Multi-volume Korans were popular during the Mamluk period, when standard formats included large single volumes, double volumes, and smaller thirty-volume sets. The scribe, or calligrapher, enjoyed the greatest prestige among the several Muslim artists responsible for producing books.