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Page of calligraphy, Bismillah and part of the first two suras of the Qu'ran
Calligrapher: Ahmed Kâmil Akdik (Ottoman, 1861–1941)
Turkish
1927 A.D./ 1346 A.H.
Object Place: Turkey
Medium/Technique
Ink and gold on paper
Dimensions
Height x width: 26.5 × 19.8 cm (10 7/16 × 7 13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Helen and Alice Colburn Fund
Accession Number29.98
CollectionsAsia, Islamic Art
ClassificationsCalligraphy
Books and manuscripts
Books and manuscripts
This rendering of Surat al-Fatiha and the beginning of Surat al-Baqara—the chapters that open the Qur’an—might have been destined for a calligraphy album. There are faint draft-lines that show where decorated borders could be added. However, the piece made its way into the MFA collection two years after it was made, as part of a larger acquisition of Arabic-script calligraphy. According to notes in museum files, this piece might have been commissioned from Akdik himself by Elizabeth Titzel, who sold it to the MFA.
DescriptionSingle folio; Arabic calligraphy in thuluth and naskh script with illuminated vocalization marks. Cream-colored paper. Thin ruling lines in pencil outlining text.
ProvenanceMiss Elizabeth (Riefstahl) Titzel (b. 1889 - d. 1986), New York; 1929, sold by Miss Elizabeth (Riefstahl) Titzel to the MFA for $5000.00 (total price for 29.56-136). (Accession Date: January 3, 1929)