Early Classical Persian Folio with The Presentation of Christ
Item Details
An early classical Persian folio, or leaf, from the 18th-century or earlier with nastaʿlīq calligraphy and a gouache painting of the Presentation of Christ in the temple. The text is taken from Sonnet 340 in a book of approximately 700 poems by Persian poet Saadi Shirazi (Abū-Muhammad Muslih al-Din bin Abdallah) (c. 1213-1292). To the recto is a finely painted scene of Christ in the temple. The Virgin Mary and several others are depicted in elaborate drapery emerging from a detailed rendering of classical arches and architectural elements. The surrounding text specifically talks about love, a core subject of Saadi’s poems. In the poem he speaks of his love for God and his dedication to that one love. To the verso, he writes a story about two types of people: on one hand is the religious person who dedicates their life to prayer and God without ever leaving their comfort to help others and on the other is the righteous person who dedicates their time to helping others in the service of God. His conclusion is that the latter is more valuable. The folio is presented with a double sided off-white matting and an acrylic glass cover to one side.
Saadi Shirazi was born in Shiraz around 1200-1215. He received education in Shiraz before going to Baghdad to study at Nezamiyeh College where he learned Islam. The Mongolian invasion of Persia led Shirazi to travel around through Anatolia, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq with references to travels in India and Central Asia as well. He sat in remote teahouses late into the night and exchanged views with merchants, farmers, wayfarers, thieves, and Sufi mendicants preaching and learning from his experiences. When Shirazi returned to his native Shiraz he was welcomed to the city and greatly respected by the ruler and in response, Saadi took his nom de plume from the name of the local prince, Sa’d ibn Zangi. He composed some of his best panegyrics as a gesture of gratitude, placing them at the beginning of his Bostan. His best known works are the Bostan (The Orchard) and the Golestan (The Rose Garden).
EBTH certifies this item is from the private collection of personal property formerly owned by Dr. Robert H. Schuller.
Condition
- small hole in the painted area; wear and age as show.
Dimensions
- measures the matting; sheet size 4.35" W x 7.25" H.
Item #
17DCC067-703
