Search engine for discovering works of Art, research articles, and books related to Art and Culture
Javascript must be enabled to continue!
Calligraphic Composition in the Shape of a Bird
View through Harvard Museums
In this tripartite calligraphic composition, the panels on the right and on the left consist of Qur'anic inscriptions, while in the center there is an image of a bird perched on a flowering branch, also composed from verses of the Qur'an. A decorative border, with flowering scrolls painted on a blue background, divides and frames the panels. The texts at the corners and on the side panels are surrounded by a cloud form in reserve, with gold or red hatching pattern in the background.
The central panel is a calligram. Verses from the Qur'an are here arranged to form the bird and flowering branch, creating tension between the text and the image. The verses, including sura 57 (al-Hadid), sura 112 (al-Ikhlas) and sura 108 (al-Kauthar), are copied in naskhi script. The composition is dated H. 1219/1804 and signed in three places by the calligrapher Abd al-Sattar.
Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art
[Adrienne Minassian New York 30 October 1973] sold; to Edwin Binney 3rd California (1973-1986) bequest; to the Harvard Art Museums 2012.
NOTE:
Stored at the San Diego Museum of Art from some time before 1986 until 1991 then at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from 1991-2011.
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum The Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of Turkish Art at the Harvard Art Museums
Title: Calligraphic Composition in the Shape of a Bird
Description:
In this tripartite calligraphic composition, the panels on the right and on the left consist of Qur'anic inscriptions, while in the center there is an image of a bird perched on a flowering branch, also composed from verses of the Qur'an.
A decorative border, with flowering scrolls painted on a blue background, divides and frames the panels.
The texts at the corners and on the side panels are surrounded by a cloud form in reserve, with gold or red hatching pattern in the background.
The central panel is a calligram.
Verses from the Qur'an are here arranged to form the bird and flowering branch, creating tension between the text and the image.
The verses, including sura 57 (al-Hadid), sura 112 (al-Ikhlas) and sura 108 (al-Kauthar), are copied in naskhi script.
The composition is dated H.
1219/1804 and signed in three places by the calligrapher Abd al-Sattar.
Related Results
Calligraphic Portrait of the Prophet Muhammad (recto); Geneaology of the Prophet Muhammad (verso) , left-hand side of a bifolio from a manuscript
Calligraphic Portrait of the Prophet Muhammad (recto); Geneaology of the Prophet Muhammad (verso) , left-hand side of a bifolio from a manuscript
Copied in naskh script by Ismail Bosnavi, these two folios (2002.50.119 and 2002.50.135) contain a hilye (Arabic hilya), or calligraphically rendered description in Arabic of the P...
Calligraphic Portrait of the Prophet Muhammad, right-hand side of a bifolio from a manuscript
Calligraphic Portrait of the Prophet Muhammad, right-hand side of a bifolio from a manuscript
Copied in naskh script by Ismail Bosnavi, these two facing folios (2002.50.119 and 2002.50.135) contain a hilye (Arabic hilya), or calligraphically rendered description in Arabic o...
Modeled, engraved and openwork perfume burner in bronze. Cylindrical base with flat bottom and flat rim on which a niche in the shape of a half dome. The opening is framed by a carved rim forming two opposing volutes, with two bird heads in the centre. On
Modeled, engraved and openwork perfume burner in bronze. Cylindrical base with flat bottom and flat rim on which a niche in the shape of a half dome. The opening is framed by a carved rim forming two opposing volutes, with two bird heads in the centre. On
Modeled, engraved and openwork perfume burner in bronze. Cylindrical base with flat bottom and flat rim on which a niche in the shape of a half dome. The opening is framed by a car...
Chan (Better known in English by the Japanese term "Zen")
Chan (Better known in English by the Japanese term "Zen")
This large, vertically oriented, rectangular album leaf is inscribed with a single character reading "Chan". The character, which is better known in the West by the Japanese pronun...
Xiang Huidi, the roster: mary, suzy, perla, sister #4, sister #5, sister #6, jaq, gus, bert, mert, luke, mouse #12, mouse #13, bird #1, bird #2, bird #3, bird #4, bird #5, bird #6, bird #7 (2024)
Xiang Huidi, the roster: mary, suzy, perla, sister #4, sister #5, sister #6, jaq, gus, bert, mert, luke, mouse #12, mouse #13, bird #1, bird #2, bird #3, bird #4, bird #5, bird #6, bird #7 (2024)
20 3D-printed aluminum alloy objects, 2 × 2 × 2 in...
Dan Christensen | Calligraphic Stains & Scrapes Paintings (1977-1984)
Dan Christensen | Calligraphic Stains & Scrapes Paintings (1977-1984)
Berry Campbell is pleased to present its third solo exhibition of works by Dan Christensen (1942-2007). This exhibition focuses on works created between 1977 and 1984, the eight-ye...