ticketsMember | Make a donation

Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja

Author Nizami
Calligrapher Maulana Azhar
ca. 1430
Not on view
The manuscript of the Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) was copied by Azhar, a pupil of Ja'far, in a fine nasta'liq that resembles that of his master. The volume opens with an illuminated shamsa, followed by a double-page illuminated frontispiece. Small illuminated panels bearing captions are found throughout the text, all in a style close to the illumination of Laila u Majnun (1994.232) but not quite so fine in the quality of drawing or clarity of pigment. The lacquer binding was added in India.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
  • Author: Nizami (present-day Azerbaijan, Ganja 1141–1209 Ganja)
  • Calligrapher: Maulana Azhar (died 1475/76)
  • Date: ca. 1430
  • Geography: Made in present-day Afghanistan, Herat
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; lacquer binding
  • Dimensions: H. 11 in. (27.9 cm)
    W. 7 in. (17.8 cm)
    D. 9/16 in. (1.5 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Gift of Alexander Smith Cochran, 1913
  • Object Number: 13.228.13.1
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i, Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; lacquer binding
Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
1499–1500
"Khusrau Seated on his Throne", Folio 64 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Khusrau Seated on his Throne", Folio 64 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Multiple artists/makers
dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE
"Khusrau Spies Shirin Bathing", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
"Khusrau Spies Shirin Bathing", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Nizami
16th century
"Khusrau and Shirin Conversing in Landscape at Night", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on unpolished paper
"Khusrau and Shirin Conversing in Landscape at Night", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Nizami
ca. 1625–30
Pages of Calligraphy from a Sharafnama (Book of Honour) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Pages of Calligraphy from a Sharafnama (Book of Honour) of Nizami of Ganja
Nizami
ca. 1620–30

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.