'Abd Allah ibn Fadl - Two Doctors Preparing Medicine - Walters W675A -...
This illustration from Walters manuscript leaf W.675 depicts two doctors preparing medicine. The text is written in partially vocalized Naskh script in brownish-black and red ink.
'Ali Dede al-Busnawi - Colophon - Walters W585210B - Full Page
This folio from Walters manuscript W.585 contains a colophon written obliquely on the right side of the frame. The colophon contains the name of the scribe and the date of copying.
'Ali Dede al-Busnawi - Illuminated Incipit Page with Headpiece - Walte...
This illuminated incipit page with polychrome floral design from Walters manuscript W.585 is inscribed with the doxological formula (basmalah).
'Ali Dede al-Busnawi - Three Hundred Sixty Sufi Questions - Walters W5...
Walters manuscript W.585, a work on Sufism in the form of questions entitled Khawatim al-hikam is by 'Ali Dede al-Busnawi (died 1007 AH/AD 1598). This particular Ottoman copy was written in Nasta'liq script by ... More
'Ali ibn Abi Talib - Leaf from Prayer Book - Walters W5799A - Full Pag...
`Ali ibn Abi Talib (died 661). 'Leaf from Prayer Book,' 1534. ink, paint, and gold on paper. Walters Art Museum (W.579.9A): Acquired by Henry Walters.
16th-century Turkish portolan map of the Black Sea
This folio from Walters manuscript W.660 contains a map of southern Greece and the Aegean Sea.
Abu al-Fadl 'Iyad ibn Musá al-Yahsubi al-Bahili - Illuminated Explicit...
This illuminated explicit from Walters manuscript W.580 contains a tailpiece inscribed with a prayer for the Prophet Muhammad (the salwalah), with a palmette at the left.
Abu al-Fadl 'Iyad ibn Musá al-Yahsubi al-Bahili - Illuminated Incipit ...
This illuminated page from Walters manuscript W.580 begins with al-sifr al-thalith min Kitab al-Shifa, written in a large Maghribi script in gold ink, indicating that it is the 3rd volume of Kitab al-Shifa by '... More
Abu al-Fadl 'Iyad ibn Musá al-Yahsubi al-Bahili - Illuminated Incipit ...
This illuminated incipit page from Walters manuscript W.580 includes a titlepiece framed by gold trefoils and vertical bars of gold strapwork, with a marginal rosette at the right.
Abu al-Fadl 'Iyad ibn Musá al-Yahsubi al-Bahili - Left Side of an Illu...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.580 is the left side of an illuminated double-page frontispiece of geometric design in gold, red, blue, and green, with a marginal rosette at the left.
Abu al-Fadl 'Iyad ibn Musá al-Yahsubi al-Bahili - Right Side of an Ill...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.580 is the right side of an illuminated double-page frontispiece of geometric design in gold, red, blue, and green, with a marginal rosette at the right.
Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili - Bequest Statement with Erased Seals - Walte...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.578 includes a bequest (waqf) statement in the name of Sultan 'Uthman Khan III (reigned 1168-1171 AH/AD 1754-1757) that is signed by Ibrahim Hanif, inspector of awqaf. Seals... More
Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili - Illuminated Finispiece with Doxological For...
The top and bottom panels of this illuminated finispiece from Walters manuscript W.578 are inscribed with the basmalah and hamdalah in white Thuluth script. The Qur'anic verses in the central panel are written ... More
Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili - Leaf from Prayer Book - Walters W5784A - Fu...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.578 includes calligraphic text in multiple scripts arranged in compartments.
Abu Bakr Shah ibn Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Shahrastani - Double-page Illumina...
This is the right side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece from Walters manuscript W.605, which together with the left side contains the title and the author's name, written in gold Thuluth script.
Abu Bakr Shah ibn Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Shahrastani - Double-page Illumina...
This is the left side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece from Walters manuscript W.605, which together with the right side contains the title and the author's name, written in gold Thuluth script.
Abu Bakr Shah ibn Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Shahrastani - Five Poems (Quintet)...
This copy of the Khamsah (quintet) of Nizami Ganjavi (died 605 AH/AD 1209), Walters manuscript W.605, was written by Abu Bakr Shah ibn Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Shahrastani and illuminated by Jamal al-Din ibn Muhammad... More
Abu Bakr Shah ibn Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Shahrastani - Leaf from Five Poems...
NaN Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Abu Bakr Shah ibn Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Shahrastani - Majnun Brought to th...
On this folio from Walters manuscript W.605, Majnun is brought to the Ka'ba in Mecca.
African - Decorated Finispiece Containing a Colophon - Walters W556133...
This decorated finispiece from Walters manuscript W.556 contains a colophon inscribed in Mashriqi (also known as Thuluth Maghribi) script stating that this is the end of volume 9 of the Qur'an (al-juz' al-tasi'... More
African - Illuminated Incipit Page with Headpiece - Walters W5564B - F...
This illuminated incipit page from Walters manuscript W.556 has a headpiece with an inscription in an Early Abbasid (Kufic) script that is now illegible due to damage. The headpiece is of geometric design in go... More
African - Illuminated Incipit with Headpiece for Chapter 19 - Walters ...
This page from Walters manuscript W.568 has an illuminated headpiece inscribed with the chapter heading for chapter 19 (Surat Maryam) in the New Abbasid (Broken Cursive) style in gold ink. The text is written i... More
African - Illuminated Tailpiece for Chapter 37 of the Qur'an - Walters...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.556 contains an illuminated tailpiece for chapter 37 (Surat al-saffat) that bears an inscription in Early Abbasid (Kufic) script.
African - Left Side of a Double-page Illuminated Frontispiece - Walter...
Walters manuscript W.556 opens with this double-page illuminated frontispiece (fols. 3b-4a) of geometrical design in gold, blue, and white. There is a palmette medallion in the margin.
African - Qur'an Board - Walters 61347
From an early age, Muslims are encouraged to memorize the Qur'an. By adulthood, many can recite long passages, if not the entire text. In Qur'anic schools across northern Africa, students commit verses of the Q... More
African - Right Side of a Double-page Illuminated Frontispiece - Walte...
Walters manuscript W.556 opens with this double-page illuminated frontispiece (fols. 3b-4a) of geometrical design in gold, blue, and white. There is a palmette medallion in the margin.
African - Text Page of Chapter 19 - Walters W5682A - Full Page
The text on this folio from Walters manuscript W.568 is written in a large Maghribi script, with vocalization in red, green, and yellow ink.
African - Text Page with Illuminated Chapter Heading for Chapter 21 - ...
This text page from Walters manuscript W.568 has the chapter heading for chapter 21 (Surat al-anbiya'), written in the New Abbasid (Broken Cursive) style in gold ink. The main text is written in a large Maghrib... More
African - Text Page with Illuminated Chapter Heading for Chapter 22 - ...
NaN Public domain reproduction of illuminated medieval manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
African - Text Page with Illuminated Chapter Heading for Chapter 23 - ...
NaN Public domain reproduction of illuminated medieval manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
African - Text Page with Illuminated Marginal Medallion - Walters W568...
This text page from Walters manuscript W.568 has an illuminated medallion in gold, blue, and red located in the right margin. This decorative form indicates the place where the believer performs a ritual prostr... More
African - Text Page with the Final Verses of Chapter 23 - Walters W568...
NaN Public domain reproduction of illuminated medieval manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Ahmad ibn Muhammad Ghaffari - History of Nigaristan - Walters W598 - T...
Walters manuscript W.598 is an illuminated and illustrated Safavid copy of the History of Nigaristan (Iran), known as Kitab-i Nigaristan or Tarikh-i Nigaristan by Ahmad Ghaffari (died 975 AH/AD 1567-1568). The ... More
Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Muqri al Fayyumi - Alphabetical Table o...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.590 contains an alphabetical table of contents that precedes the title page. It is written in red ink for the chapters and black ink for the folio numbers.
Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Muqri al Fayyumi - Colophon with Later ...
The colophon on this page from Walters manuscript W.590 gives the name of the scribe as 'Ali ibn Muhibb 'Ali and the date of copying as 1083 AH/AD 1673. Later notations were written by Muhammad al-Atrabazundi i... More
Al-Busiri - Colophon in Gold Tawqi? Script - Walters W58127A - Full Pa...
While the texts of Walters manuscript W.581are written in Thuluth and Naskh scripts, the scribe used Tawqi" script to write the colophon, as was common in the Islamic manuscript tradition. The scribe signs hims... More
Al-Busiri - Illuminated Explicit Page with Colophon - Walters W58223A ...
This is the final illuminated page in the codex, Walters W.582. The last panel contains the colophon, written in Riqa' script, giving the name of the scribe as Habib Allah ibn Dust Muhammad al-Khwarizmi.
Al-Busiri - Illuminated Title Page with Authors' Names and Patronage S...
This illuminated title page from Walters manuscript W.581 gives the title of the work, as well as the authors' names. There is also a statement referring to the patronage of the manuscript, indicating that it w... More
Al-Busiri - Incipit Page with Illuminated Headpiece - Walters W5821B -...
This codex, Walters manuscript W.582m opens with this decorated incipit page with an illuminated rectangular headpiece. The page has 5 inner panels of text executed in the following scripts: Muhaqqaq (gold), Na... More
Al-Busiri - Incipit Page with Illuminated Headpiece - Walters W5825B -...
The poem begins on this illuminated page from Walters manuscript W.582. The central panel is framed by decorated margins and a domed headpiece. The text itself is divided into 4 panels executed in Naskh (black)... More
Al-Busiri - Leaf from Amplified Poem in Honor of the Prophet Muhammad ...
Public domain photograph of a page from Arabic manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Al-Busiri - Poetical Composition in the Form of a Circular Diagram - W...
The final page of Walters manuscript W.581 contains a poetical composition in the form of a circular diagram in gold with black and red inscriptions. A later note in Ottoman Turkish concerning some points of ju... More
Amir Khusraw Dihlavi - Incipit Page with Illuminated Titlepiece - Walt...
This incipit page from Walters manuscript W.623 has an illuminated titlepiece inscribed: Kitab-i Khusraw Shirin-i Amir Khusraw Dihlavi rahmat Allah 'alayhi.
Aristotle - Illuminated Headpiece - Walters W58933B - Full Page
This illuminated headpiece from Walters manuscript W.589 is inscribed with the doxological formula (basmalah) in the rectangular panel.
Art detail, from- Abu al-Fadl 'Iyad ibn Musá al-Yahsubi al-Bahili - Il...
This illuminated explicit from Walters manuscript W.580 contains a tailpiece inscribed with a prayer for the Prophet Muhammad (the salwalah), with a palmette at the left.
Dioscorides Pedanius, of Anazarbos - Thymelaea (Spurge-laurel) - Walte...
This illustration from Walters W.750 depicts thymelaea (spurge-laurel) (thumala, khamala). This is an illustrated manuscript of the Arabic version of De materia medica by Dioscorides, copied in the seventh cent... More
Egyptian - Binding from Gospels - Walters W592binding - Top Interior
This binding from Walters manuscript W.592 is brown goatskin (with a flap). It is decorated with a blind-tooled central oval medallion and cornerpieces.
Egyptian - Illuminated Verse Marker - Walters W5614B - Full Page
This folio from Walters manuscript W.561 is a leaf from the Qur'an with an illuminated marginal verse marker.
Egyptian - Qur'an - Walters W561 - Closed Top View B
Walters manuscript W.561, an illuminated copy of the Qur'an, was made for the library of the Mamluk official Aytimish al-Bajasi (died 802 AH/AD 1400), established at Cairo's Bab al-Wazir, according to the beque... More
Egyptian - Text Page from Chapter 2 - Walters W5613B - Full Page
The text on this folio from Walters manuscript W.561 is written in a large, vocalized Muhaqqaq script in black ink with the alifs of prolongation superscripted in red. An illuminated rosette with red and blue d... More
Egyptian - Text Page from Chapter 2 - Walters W56149B - Full Page
The text on this folio from Walters manuscript W.561 is written in large, vocalized Muhaqqaq script in black ink with the alifs of prolongation superscripted in red ink. The rosette with colored dots is a verse marker.
Egyptian - Text Page from Chapter 2 - Walters W5614A - Full Page
This page from Walters manuscript W.561 shows five lines of vocalized Muhaqqaq script in black ink.
Egyptian - Titlepiece with Bequest (waqf) Statement in the Name of the...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.561 contains an illuminated titlepiece in a rectangular panel. The titlepiece is inscribed al-juz' al-thani min al-rab'ah al-sharifah on a blue background with gold arabesqu... More
Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Husayni - Bahram Gur in a Peasant?s Hou...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.677 depicts Bahram Gur in a peasant's house.
Hatifi - Alexander the Great (Iskandar) Being Handed a Letter that Des...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.657 depicts Alexander the Great (Iskandar) being handed a letter that describes a dangerous passage through the mountains.
Hatifi - Illustrated Finispiece - Walters W657329B - Full Page
This folio from Walters manuscript W.657 contains the right side of a double-page illustrated finispiece.
Hatifi - Illustrated Finispiece - Walters W657330A - Full Page
This folio from Walters manuscript W.657 contains the left side of a double-page illustrated finispiece. A youthful prince in a landscape is depicted dictating a letter.
Hatifi - Incipit with Illuminated Pieces - Walters W657282B - Full Pag...
This illuminated incipit page from Walters manuscript W.657 has a headpiece in the form of a dome and 2 rectangular pieces below, one of which is a tailpiece for the end of Khamsah-i Amir Khusraw; the other has... More
Husayn Va'iz Kashifi - A Dragon in a Well (Back) - Walters W692B - Ful...
This leaf, Walters manuscript leaf W.692, is the back of an illustration of a dragon in a well.
Husayn Va'iz Kashifi - A Dragon in a Well - Walters W692A - Full Page
This illustration, Walters manuscript leaf W.692, is from a Mughal manuscript copy of Anvar-i Suhayli (The lights of Canopus), a collection of fables by Husayn ibn 'Ali Va'iz Kashifi (died 910 AH/AD 1504-1505).... More
Husayn Va'iz Kashifi - Single Leaf from Anvar-i Suhayli by Khashifi - ...
This illustration, Walters manuscript leaf W.692, is from a Mughal manuscript copy of Anvar-i Suhayli (The lights of Canopus), a collection of fables by Husayn ibn 'Ali Va'iz Kashifi (died 910 AH/AD 1504-1505).... More
Husayn Va'iz Kashifi - Single Leaf from Anvar-i Suhayli by Khashifi - ...
This illustration, Walters manuscript leaf W.692, is from a Mughal manuscript copy of Anvar-i Suhayli (The lights of Canopus), a collection of fables by Husayn ibn 'Ali Va'iz Kashifi (died 910 AH/AD 1504-1505).... More
Iranian - A Seated Man - Walters W745A - Full Page
This drawing, Walters manuscript leaf W.745, dates to the 11th century AH/AD 17th, and was executed in Safavid Iran. It depicts a seated figure in a Safavid-style turban. The dark blue borders with polychrome f... More
Iranian - A Young Man with a Flower - Walters W680A - Full Page
This single-leaf painting of a young man in a blue robe and red undergarment, Walters manuscript leaf W.680, was produced in Safavid Iran in the 11th century AH/AD 17th.
Iranian - A Youth with a Falcon - Walters W682A - Full Page
This Safavid drawing, Walters manuscript leaf W.682, depicts a kneeling young man with a falcon, a popular motif for paintings and drawings produced on single leaves. It dates to the late 10th century AH/AD 16t... More
Iranian - Courtiers of Shah 'Abbas I - Walters W691A
This painting, Walters manuscript leaf W.691, depicts courtiers of the Safavid ruler Shah 'Abbas I (reigned 996 AH/AD 1588-1038 AH/AD 1629). It is the right side of a double-page composition, which most likely ... More
Iranian - Decorated Incipit Page with Headpiece Introducing Chapter 18...
This is a decorated incipit page from Walters manuscript W.569 with an illuminated headpiece introducing chapter 18 (Surat al-kahf).
Iranian - Illuminated Chapter Heading for Chapter 113 of the Qur'an - ...
This text page from Walters manuscript W.562 has lines of vocalized Muhaqqaq script with an illuminated chapter heading for chapter 113 (Surat al-falaq). The chapter heading is written in New Abbasid (Broken Cu... More
Iranian - Illuminated Chapter Heading for Chapter 79 (Surat al-nazi'at...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.562 contains an illuminated panel on the bottom of the page that is the chapter heading for chapter 79 (Surat al-nazi'at). It is written in Thuluth script in gold ink on a red ground.
Iranian - Illuminated Colophon with Two Goats in Combat - Walters W653...
This colophon from Walters manuscript W.653 appears to have been partially erased, with only the following clearly legible: fi shar-i Muharram al-haram 115 (in the month of holy Muharram 1105 AH/AD 1693).
Iranian - Illuminated Incipit Page with Headpiece - Walters W5693B - F...
This illuminated incipit page from Walters manuscript W.569 introduces chapter 2 (Surat al-baqarah).
Iranian - Illuminated Page with Verses from the End of Chapter 17 - Wa...
This illuminated page from Walters manuscript W.569 contains verses from the end of chapter 17 (Surat Bani Isra'il) inscribed in the center medallion in white Muhaqqaq script.
Iranian - Illuminated Sura Title - Walters W56213A - Full Page
This folio from Walters manuscript W.562 contains an illuminated sura title.
Iranian - Illuminated Text Page with Verses from Chapter 2 - Walters W...
The text of this page from Walters manuscript W.557 is written in New Abbasid (Broken Cursive) style with red dots for vowels and orthoepic signs, such as tashdid and sukun, in green. The name of Allah is illum... More
Iranian - Illuminated Text Page with Verses from Chapter 2 - Walters W...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.557 is a text page from chapter 2 (Surat al-baqarah). The name of Allah is illuminated in gold, as it is throughout the manuscript. Verses are separated by an illuminated te... More
Iranian - Leaf from Album of Persian Calligraphy - Walters W6732B - Fu...
NaN Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Iranian - Leaf from Album of Persian Calligraphy - Walters W6733A - Fu...
NaN Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Iranian - Leaf from Qur'an - Walters W557104B - Full Page
NaN Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Iranian - Leaf from Qur'an - Walters W56232B - Full Page
NaN Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Iranian - Leaf from Qur'an - Walters W56233A - Full Page
NaN Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Iranian - Leaf from Qur'an - Walters W5694A - Full Page
NaN Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Iranian - Leaf from Qur'an - Walters W57540A - Full Page
NaN Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Iranian - Leaf from Qur'an - Walters W57596A - Full Page
This folio from Walters manuscript W.575 is a text page from Qur'an.
Iranian - Leaf from the Qur'an with End Prayers - Walters W567185A - F...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.567 consists of end prayers to the Qur'an.
Iranian - Left Side of a Double-page Illuminated Frontispiece - Walter...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.557 is the left side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece inscribed with the creed that the Qur'an is God's word uncreated: al-Qur'an kalam Allah ghayr makhluq wa-man q... More
Iranian - Left Side of a Double-page Illuminated Frontispiece - Walter...
This folio is from Walters manuscript W.569.
Iranian - Left Side of a Double-page Illuminated Incipit - Walters W56...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.562 is the left side of a double-page illuminated incipit for chapter 78 (Surat al-naba'). The inscription in the illuminated panels is verses 79-81 of chapter 56 (Surat al-... More
Iranian - Left Side of a Double-page Illuminated Incipit - Walters W56...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.567 is the left side of a double-page illuminated incipit. The verses of chapter 2 (Surat al-baqarah), are written in a vocalized Naskh script in black ink with reading mark... More
Iranian - Left Side of a Double-page Opening Inscribed with Verses of ...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.569 is the left side of a double-page opening decoration containing the text of chapter 1 (Surat al-fatihah) inscribed in the center medallion in gold Muhaqqaq script on a b... More
Iranian - Left Side of a Double-page Table of Divination (Bibliomancy ...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.569 is the left side of a table of divination (bibliomancy or tafa'ul) executed in Arabic in Tawqi' script and in Persian in Nasta'liq script.
Iranian - Left Side of an Illuminated Double-page Incipit - Walters W5...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.557 is the left side of a double-page incipit with the initial verses of chapter 1 (Surat al-baqarah), written in a decorative New Abbasid (Broken Cursive) style.
Iranian - Left Side of an Illuminated Explicit with the Creed that the...
This illuminated explicit from Walters manuscript W.557 is inscribed with the creed that the Qur'an is God's word uncreated: al-Qur'an kalam Allah ghayr makhluq wa-man qala makhluq fa-huwa kafir bi-Allah al-'Al... More
Iranian - Man Seated in a Landscape - Walters W6538B - Full Page
On this folio from Walters manuscript W.653, a corpulent man sits in a stylized landscape dressed in the Safavid style. The salmon pink margins are stenciled with animal and floral forms. The catchword at the l... More
Iranian - Page with Erased Seal of Sultan 'Uthman Khan III - Walters W...
On this page from Walters manuscript W.557 is the erased seal of Sultan 'Uthman Khan ibn Mustafá Khan, who reigned from 1168 AH/AD 1754-1171 AH/AD 1757 and an erased bequest (waqf) inscription by Ibrahim Hanif ... More
Iranian - Right Side of a Double-page Illuminated Frontispiece - Walte...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.557 is the right side of a double-page illuminated frontispiece inscribed with the creed that the Qur'an is God's word uncreated: al-Qur'an kalam Allah ghayr makhluq wa-man ... More
Iranian - Right Side of a Double-page Illuminated Incipit - Walters W5...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.562 is the right side of a double-page illuminated incipit for chapter 78 (Surat al-naba'). The inscription in the illuminated panels begins with the title of chapter 78 (Su... More
Iranian - Right Side of a Double-page Illuminated Incipit - Walters W5...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.567 is the right side of a double-page illuminated incipit. The verses of chapter 1 (Surat al-fatihah), are written in a vocalized Naskh script in black ink with reading mar... More
Iranian - Right Side of a Double-page Illuminated Incipit for the Firs...
This folio from Walters manuscript W.557 is the right side of a double-page illuminated incipit. This page bears the 7 verses of chapter 1 (Surat al-fatihah), written in a decorative New Abbasid (Broken Cursive) style.