Calligraphic Album Page (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
Connoisseurs of the arts, the Safavid Shahs, like their Mughal counterparts, assembled sumptuous albums (muraqqa) filled with prized paintings, works of calligraphy, and even prints taken from European books. Typical of such album pages, this example features a collection of calligraphies from multiple sources, assembled into a patterned composition. Penned in fine Nastaʿliq script, the individual calligraphic clippings are interspersed with small triangular cartouches richly embellished with floral and arabesque decoration. The asymmetrical borders, ornamented with gold flowers, indicate that this panel was featured on a left-hand page facing another, similarly sized composition on the right: maybe another assemblage of calligraphy, but perhaps a painting.
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