دیوان حافظ

Walters Ms. W.635, Collection of poems (divan)

Walters Ms. W.635, Collection of poems (divan)

Dīvān-i Ḥāfiẓ

ديوان حافظ

Ḥāfiẓ, 14th cent. (author)

Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfiz al-Shīrāzī (author)

شمس الدين محمد حافظ الشيرازى (author)

This is an illuminated and illustrated Collection of poems (dīvān) by Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfiz al-Shīrāzī (fl. eighth century AH / fourteenth CE), which was produced in India. According to the colophon, the manuscript was completed on the 19th Rajab 1202[?] AH / 1788[?] CE. It opens with a double-page illuminated incipit (fols. 1b-2a) with headpiece that introduces the preface (dībāchah) (fols. 1b-4b), followed by another double-page illuminated incipit with headpiece opening the main text of the Dīvān (fols. 5b-6a). The codex is decorated throughout with square and rectangular panels, as well as horizontal bands with floral decoration marking the end of odes, quatrains, or series of verses. There are forty-nine illustrations. The brown leather binding with medallion and pendants is contemporary with the manuscript. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W635/description.html

The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.

Forty-nine illustrations; double-page illuminated incipit with headpiece introducing the preface; double-page illuminated incipit with headpiece introducing the main text; square and rectangular panels with floral decoration on text pages; framing lines in blue, red, gold, and green

fol. 1b Incipit page with illuminated headpiece Incipit; headpiece This incipit page has an illuminated headpiece inscribed with the doxological formula (basmalah). It introduces the preface (dībāchah) of the work. There is gilt interlinear decoration with a flower and vine gilt border.

fol. 5b Incipit page with illuminated headpiece Incipit; headpiece This incipit page has an illuminated headpiece inscribed with the doxological formula (basmalah) introducing the initial verses of the Dīvān. There is gilt interlinear illumination and rectangular panels with floral motifs in the lower corners of the text area.

fol. 8b The Prophet Muhammad (not depicted) ascends on Burāq Illustration

fol. 12a An angel tells Adam to leave paradise Illustration

fol. 14a The martyrdom of Manṣūr al-Ḥallāj Illustration

fol. 19b King Solomon sends a hoopoe with a message to Queen Sheba Illustration

fol. 23b The story of the nightingale continuing to mourn Illustration

fol. 28b Comparison of two famous couples: Iyāz and Sultan Maḥmūd and Laylá and Majnūn Illustration

fol. 33b A man beside the bed of his beloved with his two rivals Illustration

fol. 38b Ḥāfiẓ dreams of a beautiful girl coming to his bed Illustration

fol. 43b A beautiful girl and two gentlemen Illustration This illustration seems to depict the lower verse inscribed on the page indicting that it is not necessary to bring a candle to the gathering, as the beautiful face of the woman is illumination enough.

fol. 48a An intoxicated girl brings wine to Ḥāfiẓ Illustration

fol. 54a Farhād in front of Shīrīn’s palace Illustration

fol. 59b Two lovers drinking wine in a garden Illustration

fol. 65a The hoopoe brings King Solomon good news from Queen Sheba Illustration

fol. 70b Majnūn, surrounded by animals, hopes to see Laylá pass Illustration

fol. 75b A festive party Illustration

fol. 80b King Solomon upon his throne and dancing demons Illustration

fol. 86b Jamshīd with his courtiers Illustration

fol. 92a Jacob visiting Joseph and his brothers Illustration

fol. 97a Alexander the Great and Darius Illustration

fol. 102b Alexander the Great, in search of the Fountain of Life, meets the prophet Khiḍr Illustration

fol. 107a Jesus in the company of men and women Illustration This illustration seems to refer to the first couplet on the page: “Wine, like Jesus, gives life to dead bodies.”

fol. 113a Ḥāfiẓ pays a visit to his beloved at night Illustration

fol. 119b Alexander the Great, in search of the Fountain of Life, meets the prophet Khiḍr Illustration

fol. 122a Men drinking wine Illustration

fol. 126b Ḥāfiẓ tells the story of Kay Kāvus Illustration

fol. 131b Ḥāfiẓ serves wine in the company of a king, a judge, and a policeman Illustration

fol. 135a Jacob visits Joseph in Egypt Illustration

fol. 140a Ḥāfiẓ and Ḥājī Qavām Illustration

fol. 143b Sultan Maḥmūd and Iyāz Illustration

fol. 148b Farhād visits Shīrīn Illustration

fol. 150b A man playing polo Illustration This illustration relates to the lower verse on this page: "The white horse of fortune became tame under you. You rode well into the field, so go forth and hit the ball."

fol. 153b Farhād kills himself with a pickaxe Illustration

fol. 156a Ḥāfiẓ and his beloved with a bottle and a glass of wine in her hands Illustration

fol. 161b Gathering on a terrace Illustration This scene is supposed to go with the couplet "Considering what the women have done to Kay Kāvus and Kay Khusraw, do not put your faith in them."

fol. 171a Majnūn surrounded by animals and Laylá in her tent Illustration

fol. 178b Figures seated around a magic bowl Illustration This scene refers to the first couplet on the page, referring to Jamshīd and his magic bowl (jām).

fol. 180b Farhād cuts the rocks while Shīrīn and Khusraw pass by on horseback Illustration

fol. 183a The empty throne and Jamshīd’s crown Illustration

fol. 186a Ḥāfiẓ recites poems to his beloved Illustration

fol. 188b Ḥāfiẓ recites poems before a king Illustration

fol. 190b A beautiful girl (like an angel) on horseback followed by a crowd of admirers Illustration

fol. 192a A Persian king with his courtiers Illustration

fol. 193b Laylá and Majnūn and an old messenger who arranged their meeting Illustration

fol. 195a Rustam in the well Illustration

fol. 196b Two seated figures in discussion Illustration This scene refers to the verse about the passing of kings into oblivion, advising that one should not spend life without drink and merrymaking.

fol. 198a A man in the company of merrymaking friends Illustration

fol. 200b Ḥāfiẓ comes to visit his beloved Illustration

fol. 202b A festive party with music and wine Illustration

fol. 204b Jacob questions his sons after they threw Joseph into the well Illustration

19th Rajab 1202[?] AH / 1788[?] CE

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequest

Persian

paper

image/jpeg

1788

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