Cleveland Museum of Art

Page from a Qur'an, Sura al-Nisa 4, Verses 157–58

Date

1100s

Medium

opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper

Culture

Seljuk Iran

Department

Islamic Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Arabic calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, was elevated above all other art forms in the Islamic world because Allah, or God, revealed the divine word of Islam to the Prophet Muhammad (570–632) in the Arabic language. This Qur’an page is considered one of the most splendid examples of Arabic calligraphy. Based on the proportions of Arabic letters, majestic eastern Kufic script features elongated letters with long upstrokes and low strokes swaying to the left. Contours echoing the letters separate the sacred text from the lively arabesque background of foliage in rhythmic patterns. This vertical layout on paper replaces the earlier horizontal format on parchment. Calligraphers and poets enjoyed higher status than painters and architects in Islamic countries.

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