Anthology of poetry
This collection of poems includes four sections by different master calligraphers, each of whom followed the style of Sultan Ali Mashhadi. In Herat, Mir Ali Haravi penned the first section of the manuscript that consists of a selection of verses from the Mathnavi-yi ma‘navi (Rhyming couplets of spiritual meaning) by the renowned author Jalal al-Din Rumi, who died in 1273.
Mir Ali Haravi mastered the nasta‘liq script in the microscopic form, seen here, and in the larger size that was used for works later mounted into albums. Despite the script’s minute size, he perfectly rendered the intrinsic fluid character of nasta‘liq by using at least one elongated stroke in each line.
Anthology of poetry
Signed by Mir Ali Haravi (d. ca. 1550)
Historic Iran, present-day Afghanistan, Herat, Safavid period, dated 1524–25 (930 AH)
Ink, color, and gold on paper
Purchase
Freer Gallery of Art F1944.48
