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Walters Ms. W.611, Five poems (quintet)

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Shelf mark

W.611


Manuscript

Five poems (quintet)


Text title
Khamsah-i Niẓāmī

Vernacular: خمسه نظامى


Author

Authority name: Niẓāmī Ganjavī, 1140 or 41-1202 or 3

Supplied name: Ilyās ibn Yūsuf Niẓāmī Ganjavī

Name, in vernacular: الياس بن يوسف نظامى گنجوى

Note: Author dates preferred by cataloger: d. 605 AH / 1209 CE


Abstract

This is an illuminated and illustrated copy of the Khamsah (quintet) by Niẓāmī Ganjavī (d. 605 AH / 1209 CE), written in 1059 AH / 1649 CE by Shams al-Dīn Kirmānī. The codex opens with an illuminated titlepiece inscribed hadhā kitāb Khamsah-ʾi Mawlānā Shaykh-i Niẓāmī (fol. 1b). There are additional illuminated headpieces for the subsequent four poems (fols. 22b, 82b, 130b, and 180b). The illustrations are in different styles executed during the Safavid and Qajar periods. The floral lacquer binding dates to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE.


Date

8 Shaʿbān 1059 AH / 1649 CE


Origin

Iran


Scribe

As-written name: Shams al-Dīn Kirmānī

Name, in vernacular: شمس الدين كرمانى


Form

Book


Genre

Literary -- Poetry


Language:

The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.


Colophon
fol. 287a:
  1. Transliteration: tammat al-Khamsah [sic] Shaykh Niẓāmī ʿalayhi al-raḥmah /1/ fī 8 shahr Shaʿbān sanat 1059 /2/ Allāhumma ighfir li-ṣāḥibih /3/ wa-kātibih /4/ katabahu Shams al-Dīn Kirmānī /5/
  2. Comment: In Arabic; gives name of scribe and date of copying

Support material

Paper

Laid paper


Extent

Foliation: i+287+i


Collation

Catchwords: On versos, sometimes trimmed


Dimensions

17.0 cm wide by 29.5 cm high


Written surface

11.5 cm wide by 23.0 cm high


Layout
  1. Columns: 4
  2. Ruled lines: 25

Contents:
fols. 1b - 287a:
  1. Title: Khamsah-i Niẓāmī
  2. Author: Niẓāmī Ganjavī, 1140 or 41-1202 or 3
  3. Scribe: Shams al-Dīn Kirmānī
  4. Incipit: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم هست كليد در كنج حكيم...
  5. Text note: Contains all five poems: Makhzān al-asrār (fols. 1b-21b), Khusraw va Shīrīn (fols. 22b-81a), Laylá va Majnūn (fols. 82b-129a), Haft paykar (fols. 130b-179b), and Iskandarnāmah (fols. 180b-287a)
  6. Hand note: Written in black nastaʿlīq script with chapter/section headings in red
  7. Decoration note: Twenty-four illustrations; illuminated titlepieces and headpieces opening each poem of the Khamsah, along with decorated borders and cloud-bands between lines (fols. 1b, 22b, 82b, 130b, and 180b); text enclosed within a frame

Decoration:

fol. 1b:

  1. W.611, fol. 1b
  2. Title: Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece
  3. Form: Incipit; headpiece
  4. Text: Makhzan al-asrār
  5. Label: This incipit page has an illuminated headpiece inscribed hadhā kitāb Khamsah-i Mawlānā Shaykh-i Niẓāmī. It introduces the first poem of the Khamsah, Makhzan al-asrār. There is interlinear gilt decoration on this page and the facing page.

fol. 13a:

  1. W.611, fol. 13a
  2. Title: An old woman implores Sultan Sanjar for help
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Makhzan al-asrār
  5. Label: An old woman complains to Sultan Sanjar about his policeman.

fol. 15b:

  1. W.611, fol. 15b
  2. Title: A fox and a robber
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Makhzan al-asrār

fol. 22b:

  1. W.611, fol. 22b
  2. Title: Incipit page with illuminated headpiece
  3. Form: Incipit; headpiece
  4. Text: Khusraw va Shīrīn
  5. Label: This illuminated headpiece introduces the second poem of the Khamsah, Khusraw va Shīrīn.

fol. 32b:

  1. W.611, fol. 32b
  2. Title: Shāpūr shows Shīrin a picture of Khusraw
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Khusraw va Shīrīn

fol. 45a:

  1. W.611, fol. 45a
  2. Title: Khusraw battles Bahrām Chūbīnah
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Khusraw va Shīrīn

fol. 53b:

  1. W.611, fol. 53b
  2. Title: Farhād carries Shīrīn and her dead horse
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Khusraw va Shīrīn

fol. 66a:

  1. W.611, fol. 66a
  2. Title: Khusraw and Shīrīn on the throne in the presence of courtiers
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Khusraw va Shīrīn

fol. 72b:

  1. W.611, fol. 72b
  2. Title: Khusraw being advised by Buzurg Umīd
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Khusraw va Shīrīn

fol. 82b:

  1. W.611, fol. 82b
  2. Title: Incipit page with illuminated headpiece
  3. Form: Incipit; headpiece
  4. Text: Laylá va Majnūn
  5. Label: This illuminated headpiece introduces the third poem of the Khamsah, Laylá va Majnūn.

fol. 92b:

  1. W.611, fol. 92b
  2. Title: Majūn visits Laylá in the company of wild animals
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Laylá va Majnūn

fol. 100a:

  1. W.611, fol. 100a
  2. Title: Nawfal and his men attack Laylá’s tribe
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Laylá va Majnūn

fol. 109a:

  1. W.611, fol. 109a
  2. Title: Majnūn in the wilderness surrounded by animals
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Laylá va Majnūn

fol. 116b:

  1. W.611, fol. 116b
  2. Title: Salīm visits Majnūn in the wilderness
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Laylá va Majnūn

fol. 123a:

  1. W.611, fol. 123a
  2. Title: Laylá and Majnūn reunited after a long separation
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Laylá va Majnūn

fol. 130b:

  1. W.611, fol. 130b
  2. Title: Incipit page with illuminated headpiece
  3. Form: Inicipit; headpiece
  4. Text: Haft paykar
  5. Label: This illuminated headpiece introduces the fourth poem of the Khamsah, Haft paykar.

fol. 141a:

  1. W.611, fol. 141a
  2. Title: Bahrām Gūr kills two lions
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Haft paykar

fol. 148a:

  1. W.611, fol. 148a
  2. Title: Bahrām Gūr in the black pavilion
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Haft paykar

fol. 153b:

  1. W.611, fol. 153b
  2. Title: Bahrām Gūr in the yellow pavilion
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Haft paykar

fol. 156a:

  1. W.611, fol. 156a
  2. Title: Bahrām Gūr in the green pavilion
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Haft paykar

fol. 158b:

  1. W.611, fol. 158b
  2. Title: Bahrām Gūr in the red pavilion
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Haft paykar

fol. 162a:

  1. W.611, fol. 162a
  2. Title: Bahrām Gūr in the blue pavilion
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Haft paykar
  5. Comment:

    The color of this miniature is predominantly green.

fol. 166b:

  1. W.611, fol. 166b
  2. Title: Bahrām Gūr in the sandalwood pavilion
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Haft paykar

fol. 170a:

  1. W.611, fol. 170a
  2. Title: Bahrām Gūr in the white pavilion
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Haft paykar

fol. 180b:

  1. W.611, fol. 180b
  2. Title: Incipit page with illuminated headpiece
  3. Form: Incipit; headpiece
  4. Text: Iskandarnāmah
  5. Label: This illuminated headpiece introduces the fifth poem of the Khamsah, Iskandarnāmah.

fol. 192b:

  1. W.611, fol. 192b
  2. Title: Alexander the Great fights the Ethiopians
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Iskandarnāmah

fol. 204b:

  1. W.611, fol. 204b
  2. Title: Alexander the Great laments the death of Darius
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Iskandarnāmah

fol. 232b:

  1. W.611, fol. 232b
  2. Title: Alexander the Great received by the Khāqān of China
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Iskandarnāmah

fol. 237a:

  1. W.611, fol. 237a
  2. Title: Alexander the Great fights the Russians
  3. Form: Illustration
  4. Text: Iskandarnāmah

Binding

The binding is not original.

Probably early thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE; lacquer with floral design in the main and outer panels, as well as central oval medallions and pendants (no flap)


Provenance

Partly visible seal impression dated [1]320[?]AH: [...?] Ibrāhīm (fol.1a)


Acquisition

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest


Contributors

Principal cataloger: Gacek, Adam

Catalogers: Landau, Amy; Smith, Sita

Editor: Bockrath, Diane

Conservators: Jewell, Stephanie; Quandt, Abigail

Contributors: Barrera, Christina; Emery, Doug; Herbert, Lynley; Noel, William; Simpson, Shreve; Tabritha, Ariel; Toth, Michael B.; Valle, Chiara


Publisher

The Walters Art Museum


License

Licensed for use under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Access Rights, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode. It is requested that copies of any published articles based on the information in this data set be sent to the curator of manuscripts, The Walters Art Museum, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201.