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Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy
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Qur'anic verses
AUTHOR/CREATOR
Calligrapher: unknown
CREATED/PUBLISHED
11th-12th centuries
NOTES
Dimensions of Written Surface: 26.2 (w) x 35.9 (h) cm
Script: Kufi
This calligraphic fragment includes some of the terminal verses (43-53) of the 30th chapter of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Rum (The Romans). The last seven verses (53-60) of this chapter, as well as the first four verses of the next chapter (31:1-4), appear on the fragment's verso (see 1-85-154.101 V). This chapter deals with world power, as symbolized by the Persian and Roman empires, and the Day of Judgment. The surah advises here:
Turn your face to the right religion / Before there comes from God / The day which there is no chance of averting. / On that day men will be divided (in two groups). / Those who reject faith / Will suffer from that rejection; / And those who work righteousness / Will spread their couch (of repose) for themselves in Heaven. (30:43-44)
The verso of this calligraphic fragment includes the last verses of the Surat al-Rum, as well as the first four verses of the subsequent chapter, Surat Luqman (31:1-4). Surat Luqman advises righteousness and wisdom. This surah states:
Those who establish regular prayer / And give regular charity / And have in their hearts the assurance of the Hereafter / These are on true guidance from their Lord / And these are the ones who will prosper. (31:4-5).
The Kufi script executed in brown ink on this parchment fragment recalls Kufi "New Style I" typical of Qur'ans produced in Iraq and Persia during the 11th and 12th centuries (Déroche 1992, cat. no. 90), although by this time Qur'ans tend to be produced on paper rather than vellum or parchment. This kind of script is angular, and letters that should be connected by ligatures are oftentimes detached, thus making the text difficult to decipher.
Although substantially faded today, vocalization marks executed as red dots are visible both above and below the main text lines. Verse markers are rather indistinguishable, as they are very small and also executed in brown ink. They consist of three diagonal lines diminishing in size in order to create a triangular formation. The tenth verse marker separating verse 50 from 51, located on the fourth line from the bottom on this folio, stands out as it consists of a simple virgule inscribed in a plain circle.
Unfortunately, this fragment has suffered through the wear of usage -- as witnessed by the creases running horizontally and vertically across the folio -- and water damage, which has smeared the letters both at the top and bottom of this fragment.
SUBJECT
Arabic calligraphy
Islamic manuscripts
Kufi
Islamic calligraphy
Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
Arabic script calligraphy
MEDIUM
34.5 (w) x 40.5 (h) cm
CALL NUMBER
1-85-154.101
REPOSITORY
Library of Congress, African and Middle Eastern Division, Washington, D.C. 20540
DIGITAL ID
ascs 107
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.amed/ascs.107
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