| U.S.A.1985 -1986 |
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Calligraphic composition
Ink, gouache and gold on paper
25 3/4 x 21 1/4 in
Malaysia, private collection
Geneva, Jean-Paul Croisier collectionThe inscription consists of Surah IX, aT-Tawbah, verse 128:
Now hath come unto you An Apostle from amongst Yourselves; it grieves him that you should perish; Ardently anxious is he over you: to the believers is he the most kind and merciful.
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| It is written in Muhaqqaq script, with the words "anxious is he over you" in large Thuluth outlined in gold. Muhaqqaq, which means "meticulously produced", was standardized by Ibn Muqlah and reached perfection at the hands of Ibn al-Bawwab and Yaqut al-Must'asimi. Like Naskh, Muhaqqaq became an extremely popular script for copying Qur'an. Its shallow sub linear curves and horizontally extended mid-line curvatures, combined with its compact word-structure, give it a leftward-sweeping impetus. Its varieties range from a somewhat rugged script to writing with delicate outlines and soft curves, and a bolder type with characteristics of both Thuluth and Naskh. The calligrapher of this composition is Mohammed Zakariya, a well-known modern exponent of the classical style, usually working in a manner which shows his interest in the Ottoman masters of the last century. Compositions of this type originated with Mustafa Raqim (1757-1826) and became popular in 19th century Turkey. However, the vividly colored roundels are based on 14th-century Iranian manuscript illuminations. The composition thus has diverse artistic and calligraphic antecedents. This piece shows the calligrapher's skill as a designer. |
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