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"Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories)

Author Hafiz-i Abru Iranian
ca. 1425
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455
Shah Rukh (r. 1405–47), son of Timur, commissioned Hafiz‑i Abru to write an extensive world history, beginning with Adam and continuing down to his own time. Early manuscript copies of the text are heavily illustrated in a simple, direct style—as seen in this example. Here, the angel Gabriel appears to the Prophet Muhammad, calling him to spread the word of God, and transmitting to him the first of God’s revelations—which would become the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories)
  • Author: Hafiz-i Abru (Iranian, born Khorasan–1430 Zanjan)
  • Date: ca. 1425
  • Geography: Attributed to present-day Afghanistan, Herat
  • Medium: Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Painting: H. 6 1/8 in. (15.5 cm)
    W. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
    Page: H. 16 7/8 in. (42.8 cm)
    W. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm)
    Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm)
    W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Cora Timken Burnett Collection of Persian Miniatures and Other Persian Art Objects, Bequest of Cora Timken Burnett, 1956
  • Object Number: 57.51.37.3
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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"Alexander the Great and Dying Darius", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories) of Hafiz-i Abru, Hafiz-i Abru Iranian, Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on brownish paper
"Alexander the Great and Dying Darius", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories) of Hafiz-i Abru
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"Throne Scene", Folio from a Majma al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories), Hafiz-i Abru Iranian, Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
"Throne Scene", Folio from a Majma al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories)
Hafiz-i Abru
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"Journey of the Prophet Muhammad", Folio from the Majma al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories), Hafiz-i Abru Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Journey of the Prophet Muhammad", Folio from the Majma al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories)
Hafiz-i Abru
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"Adam Makes a Pilgrimage", Folio from a Majma al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories), Hafiz-i Abru Iranian, Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
"Adam Makes a Pilgrimage", Folio from a Majma al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories)
Hafiz-i Abru
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"Chinese Emperor Standing in Pavilion", Folio from a Majma al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories) of Hafiz-i Abru, Hafiz-i Abru Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Chinese Emperor Standing in Pavilion", Folio from a Majma al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories) of Hafiz-i Abru
Hafiz-i Abru
ca. 1425

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