Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Page with illuminated calligraphy, Sayings of Ali
Page with illuminated calligraphy, Sayings of Ali

Page with illuminated calligraphy, Sayings of Ali

Ahmed Karahisari (Ottoman, 1469 – 1556)
mid-16th century or later
Object PlaceTurkey
Medium/TechniqueInk and gold on paper; colored paper
DimensionsHeight x width: 17.3 × 20.3 cm (6 13/16 × 8 in.)
Credit LineHelen and Alice Colburn Fund
Accession number29.114
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsBooks and manuscripts
Collections
Description
Ottoman calligraphers often demonstrated their skills by writing different styles and sizes of Arabic script on rectangular sheets of paper, which were then illuminated, mounted on pasteboard, and assembled into accordion fold albums, known as muraqqaʿ. This calligraphic panel contains a quote from the sayings of Ali that reads, "Teach your children calligraphy." The calligrapher, working in the style of Ahmed Karahisari (1469–1556), used the thuluth style of script for the top two lines and muhaqqaq for the last.
ProvenanceMiss Elizabeth (Riefstahl) Titzel (b. 1889 - d. 1986), New York; 1929, sold by Miss Elizabeth (Riefstahl) Titzel to the MFA for $5000.00 (total price for 29.56-136). (Accession Date: January 3, 1929)