Excellence Inscribed 05 July 2013
This Qur’an folio, inscribed in an elegant naskh hand, is a testament to the excellence of Ottoman calligraphy and illumination in the late 16th century. The three bands of text penned in an attractive, large muhaqqaq script divide the page into three equal parts to further enhance the exquisite lettering. The refined hand and large paper size point to official patronage.
The folio is on display in the exhibition Beyond the Surface: Text and Image in Islamic Art at the Allen Memorial Art Museum through July 31. The works are part of the museum’s permanent collection. This show brings together examples of Muslim figurative and non-figurative art.
Photograph courtesy of Allen Memorial Art Museum
