Mughal Indian Text Manuscripts

Pages from a historical manuscript created in Mughal India, featuring intricate ink and gold script, reflecting cultural artistry and religious significance from the era.

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20 x 14.4 cm (7 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.); text field: 16.5 x 10.5 cm (6 1/2 x 4 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 59, 1580, Qazvin

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Tuti-Nama (Tales of a Parrot), c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Color and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Attributed to Basavana (Indian, active c. 1560-1600). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 13., 1580 ., Qazvin

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

The orbit (falak) of the Moon (al-Qamar), f. 15v. 1540 - 1545. Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muammad, approximately 1203-1283. text. Illuminations, Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection. Mountains, Birds, Animals, Manuscripts, Persian

The orbit of Saturn (Zuhal), f. 22v. 1540 - 1545. Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muammad, approximately 1203-1283. text. Illuminations, Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection. Mountains, Birds, Animals, Manuscripts, Persian

Folios from an Illustrated Manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi Folios from an Illustrated Manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi, late 17th century. Ink, opaque watercolor on paper, Text: 10 5/8 x 5 7/8 in. (27 x 15 cm). Arts of the Islamic World late 17th century

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Attributed to Basavana (Indian, active c. 1560-1600). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20 x 14.5 cm (7 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.); text field: 16.5 x 10.5 cm (6 1/2 x 4 1/8 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20 x 14.2 cm (7 7/8 x 5 9/16 in.); text field: 16.7 x 10 cm (6 9/16 x 3 15/16 in.).

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 131, 1580, Qazvin

Plum tree (ijjâs), f. 156. 1540 - 1545. Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muammad, approximately 1203-1283. text. Illuminations, Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection. Mountains, Birds, Animals, Manuscripts, Persian

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Manuscript Leaves from an Arabic Manuscript 6th-14th century () Arabic. Manuscript Leaves from an Arabic Manuscript 479383

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 40, 1580, Qazvin

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 123, 1580, Qazvin

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper; average: 26.1 x 15.6 cm (10 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.).

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20 x 14.5 cm (7 7/8 x 5 11/16 in.); text field: 16.5 x 10.4 cm (6 1/2 x 4 1/8 in.).

Manuscript of the Hadiqat al-Su`ada (Garden of the Blessed) of Fuzuli Muhammad bin Sulayman, known as Fuzuli (ca. 1483-1556). Manuscript of the Hadiqat al-Su`ada (Garden of the Blessed) of Fuzuli, AH 1011 / 1602-3 C.E. Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper; leather binding, 5 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. (14 x 24.8 cm). This manuscript is a copy of the sixteenth-century Hadiqat al-Sucada (Garden of the Blessed), written in Baghdad by the Ottoman mystic Muhammad bin Sulayman, known as Fuzuli (circa 1483-1556). It is a text on the Prophets family and belongs to a group of illustrated devotional manuscripts executed in a provincial style in Baghdad under the patronage of the Ottoman sultan Mehmet III (r. 1595-1603). Here, the Prophet is shown veiled and seated on a pulpit, accompanied by his cousin and son-in-law, cAli, and his grandchildren, Hasan and Husayn, all distinguished by haloes of fire. According to the Ottoman Turkish text, Muhammad is conversing with the angel Gabriel and the Angel of

Qisas al-Anbiyâ, fol. 112, 1580, Qazvin

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Calligraphy: Preface to the Anvar-i Suhaili, c. 1590. Northern India, Mughal court, 16th century. Ink on cream gold-decorated paper with gold-sprinkled blue paper borders, six lines of Persian calligraphy (verso); page: 36.1 x 24.8 cm (14 3/16 x 9 3/4 in.); text field: 16 x 8.3 cm (6 5/16 x 3 1/4 in.). The lovers have met in a remote wilderness location, away from the city shown in the distance. However, their affair has run its course, and they decide to part ways, each walking in opposite directions through an ominous landscape, where strange rock formations and an oversized serpent-slain by foxes gnawing on its innards-lend a sense of foreboding. As Mughal court painting developed into the last decades of the 16th century, artists began using increasingly muted colors and gentler shading techniques than they did in the more robust Adventures of Hamza at the left. The omission of a light source and shadows adds to a timeless, otherworldly impression to the landscape.

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.).

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Text page from a Mirror of Holiness (Mirat al-quds) of Father Jerome Xavier, 1602. Mughal India, Allahabad, made for Prince Salim (1569-1627). Ink and gold on paper;

Single Page with an Illustration from a Shahnamah Single Page with an Illustration from a Shahnamah, 17th century. Ink, opaque watercolor on paper, Image: 9 13/16 x 5 7/8 in. (25 x 15 cm). Arts of the Islamic World 17th century

Manuscript Leaves from an Arabic Manuscript. Culture: Arabic. Dimensions: Overall (closed): 9 x 7 1/16 in. (22.8 x 18 cm). Date: 6th-14th century (). Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Page from Tales of a Parrot (Tuti-nama): text page, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Ink and gold on paper; overall: 20.1 x 14.4 cm (7 15/16 x 5 11/16 in.); text field: 16.6 x 10 cm (6 9/16 x 3 15/16 in.).

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