تاریخ نگارستان

Walters Ms. W.598, History of Nigaristan

Walters Ms. W.598, History of Nigaristan

Kitāb-i Nigāristān

كتاب نكارستان

Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad Ghaffārī (author)

احمد بن محمد غفارى (author)

This is an illuminated and illustrated Safavid copy of the History of Nigaristan (Iran), known as Kitāb-i Nigāristān or Tārīkh-i Nigāristān by Ahmad Ghaffārī (d. 975 AH / 1567-8 CE). The colophon indicates that it was completed on 5 Shawwāl 976 AH / 1569 CE. The manuscript opens with a double-page illuminated frontispiece, and there are eight paintings illustrating the text in a style that has been associated with the school of painting at Shīrāz. The dark brown/black leather binding, which is contemporary with the manuscript, has a large central panel with oval and pendants. The border is comprised of cartouches alternating with roundels. All are gold-brushed and decorated with floral and cloud motifs. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W598/description.html

The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.

Eight illustrations; double-page illuminated frontispiece with the title and author’s name, incipit page with illuminated titlepiece; borders with floral designs and cloud-bands; frame

fol. 1b Double-page illuminated frontispiece Frontispiece This is the right side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece giving the name of the work, Kitāb-i Nigāristān, and the author's name, Ahmad Ghaffārī.

fol. 2a Double-page illuminated frontispiece Frontispiece This is the left side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece giving the name of the work, Kitāb-i Nigāristān, and the author's name, Ahmad Ghaffārī.

fol. 2b Incipit page with illuminated titlepiece Incipit; titlepiece This incipit page has an illuminated, double-tiered titlepiece inscribed with the title of the work, Kitāb-i Nigāristān. The interlinear illumination has polychrome floral motifs.

fol. 29a Munzir ibn Mughīrah of Damascus being received by the vizier Fazl Barmakī Illustration

fol. 53b The daughter of Seljuk Sultan Malikshāh, mounted on a camel, meeting her bridegroom on her way to Baghdad Illustration

fol. 79a Bahrām Gūr killing a white elephant Illustration

fol. 113a Sultan Jalāl al-Dīn and his men after their defeat by the Mongols Illustration

fol. 152a Gashtāsb playing polo in the presence of the Roman Emperor Illustration

fol. 175a Tīmūr fighting Shah Manṣūr Illustration

fol. 182a Tīmūr and his army during the campaign in Iraq Illustration

fol. 189b Sarāmās singing before Tīmūr Illustration

5 Shawwāl 976 AH / 1569 CE

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

Persian

paper

image/jpeg

1569

All Walters manuscript images and descriptions provided here are copyrighted © The Walters Art Museum.