Unknown Maker, Persian

Text becomes decoration on this manuscript page. Framed by scrolling vines and flowers that echo the rhythmic calligraphy, poetic verses are further animated through their style and composition. Written in nasta’liq, an elegant and lyrical script from Central Asia, the text is laid out in horizontal and diagonal orientations, emphasizing aesthetics as well as content. Out of respect for the Muslim belief that no one is capable of painting a human being as beautiful as God, many Persian artists channeled their creativity into developing non-figural decorations.