Calligraphy in Arabic and Persian, folio from an album for Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah

Malik al-Daylami

Calligraphy in Arabic and Persian, folio from an album for Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. This folio contains two samples of fine calligraphy, written by renowned masters Malik Daylami and his student Mir `Imad al-Hasani (d. 1615). It was once part of a calligraphic poetry album, produced for Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, who ruled the Deccani sultanate of Golconda. Some of the sultan's own poetry (beautifully written out by his court calligraphers) is included in the compilation, as well as older examples of fine calligraphy from Iran (such as these), and a tinted drawing. There are at least fifteen known folios from this album, which was re-bordered at a late date. Album-page, ink, gold and colours on paper, mounted on card, Arabic lines in nasta`liq script praising the Prophet Muhammad, signed `Imad al-Hasani (recto) and Persian verses praising a king, signed Malik Daylami in Nakhchivan, dated 961H, 1554 (verso), folio from an album compiled for Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (r. 1580-1612), Golconda and Hyderabad, Deccan, India, c. 1590-1605.