Page from the Koran, 12th century
Unknown artist, Iranexpand_more
Ink and colors on paperexpand_more
Gift of C. C. Webber and Margaret McMillan Webberexpand_more 59.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
The earliest Korans were written almost exclusively in the script known as kufic, after the town of Kufa in Mesopotamia where the style originated. Until the eleventh century, letters were thick and well-rounded, with short vertical and pronounced horizontal strokes. In later examples like this however, letters appear more angular with a stronger emphasis on the vertical elements. This form of kufic eventually gave way to more fluid cursive styles, including thuluth, naskhi and nastaliq, probably the most elegant Persian script. In this example, the rich background of muted arabesques heightens the angularity and strength of the script itself.
Details
- Title
- Page from the Koran
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 59.1
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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