COPIED BY SULTAN 'ALI AL-MASHHADI, IRAN, DATED AH 917/1511 AD

Details

HATIFI: LAYLA WA MAJNUN
COPIED BY SULTAN 'ALI AL-MASHHADI, IRAN, DATED AH 917/1511 AD
Persian manuscript on tinted gold-flecked paper, 69ff. with 14ll. of black nasta'liq, colophon signed Sultan 'Ali and dated AH 917, two miniatures in gouache heightened with gold, illuminated opening bifolium with floral arabesque over gold and blue ground, first page with title medallion, rubbed, in gold, red and green leather binding with stamped and decoupe decoration, slight staining
Folio 9½ x 6 1/3in. (24 x 16cm.)

Provenance

Comte Chandon de Brialles (library label)

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Lot Essay

'Abdullah Hatifi died in 927/1520-21. He was the nephew of 'Abd al-Rahman Jami and much respected by the Timurid Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara and his minister Mir 'Alishir. The Safavid Shah Isma'il met Hatifi on his way to fight the Uzbeks in 917/1511-12, and asked him to write a book on the royal victories, which he never completed. He was also a friend of the painter Behzad.

The colophon of this manuscript states that it was copied by Sultan 'Ali in 917/1511-12, and that he wrote it in haste. Considering this date and Hatifi's connection with the Timurid court in Herat, this must be the famous Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi.

The first miniature illustrates Layla and Majnun at school together, the second is of Majnun in the wilderness.

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