Top of page

Manuscript/Mixed Material The feast of Iskandar and Nushabah

About this Item

Title

  • The feast of Iskandar and Nushabah

Created / Published

  • 16th century

Headings

  • -  Calligraphy, Arabic
  • -  Calligraphy, Persian
  • -  Manuscripts, Persian--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  Iran
  • -  Arabic script calligraphy
  • -  Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Islamic calligraphy
  • -  Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Nasta'liq

Notes

  • -  The feast of Iskandar and Nushabah, from Nizami's "Iskandarnamah" (The Book of Alexander the Great), part of the "Khamsah" (Quintet) and Shirazi style Safavid Persian illuminated manuscript in Nasta'liq script.
  • -  Another painting from Nizami's "Khamsah" is also held in the collections of the Library of Congress (see 1-86-154.123).
  • -  Dimensions of Painting: 18.6 (w) x 22.8 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: 13.7 (w) x 22.3 (h) cm
  • -  Nizami's "Iskandarnamah" has been translated into English by Minoo Southgate, "Iskandarnamah: a Persian Medieval Alexander-Romance" (New York: Columbia University Press, 1978).
  • -  On his way to the Land of Darkness, he visits the Queen of the Caucasian city of Barda, Nushabah in order to seek her financial and logistical support. Disguised as a messenger, Alexander nonetheless is recognized by Nushabah, who is familiar with his facial traits from a painting located in her treasure house of portraits. Though keeping his identity a secret, she organizes a large feast ('ishrat) for him and invites him to sit next to her on a golden throne. Servants and musicians surround the couple, as described in Nizami's text on the fragment's verso (see 1-86-154.122 V).
  • -  The painting on the recto and the text on the verso of this fragment describes an episode in Nizami's "Iskandarnamah" (The Book of Alexander the Great), the last text of the author's "Khamsah" (Quintet). In his work, the great Persian author Nizami (d. 614/1218) describes the adventures and battles of Alexander the Great as he travels to the end of the world.
  • -  The text located above and below the painting is executed in fine Persian cursive script known as nasta'liq. Because the verses precede and follow a composition, they are outlined in cloud bands and located on an illuminated gold ground decorated with flower and vine motifs. The painting's composition is typical of illuminated manuscripts made in Shiraz (southwestern Iran) during the second half of the 16th century. These manuscripts were usually produced for the market rather than for a royal patron. This particular painting resembles another composition of the same subject sold at Sotheby's (London) on 10/18/1995 (Lot 17).
  • -  Script: nasta'liq
  • -  1-86-154.122

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 22.7 (w) x 34.2 (h) cm

Repository

  • Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714512

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Near East Section Persian Manuscript Collection

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

The feast of Iskandar and Nushabah. 16th Century. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714512/.

APA citation style:

The feast of Iskandar and Nushabah. 16th Century. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714512/.

MLA citation style:

The feast of Iskandar and Nushabah. 16th Century. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714512/>.