Calligraphy from a ghazal of Fakhr al-Din Iraqi (Persian, 1213-1289) and a verse from the Tuhfat al-ahrar (The Gift of the Free) of Abd al-Rahman Jami, c. 1760. The first two lines in Persian read: Once again, Iraqi broke his vows: From the cup of love he became intoxicated and ecstatic. The excerpt from the mystic poet Jami is more of a pious injunction: Until you are bold enough to take to the seas, You will not reap spiritual benefits from your inner heart. Unless you pitch your tent next to the spiritual guide, You will not enjoy him to the fullest.

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Size: 5127px × 7940px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 18th, active, art, attributed, calligraphy, century, cleveland, heritage, illuminated, india, indian, ink, mid-1700s, museum, panels, paper, persian, poetry, verso