farfel_n03_059_160

160
Sept. 1983
Maggs Bros., London
45L = $67.50
Manuscript leaf - Persian - 17th or early 18th Century.
Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1202 -3) See "Maggs Bulletin" no. 50 #66 Oct 86 75= 1= %1.50
Layla and Majnun
Illuminated pages from a MSS - ink, opaque watercolor + gold on paper Written on glazed paper - 4 columns, thin gold bars between the columns. within gold + blue border.
12x21.2cm 19 lines one illuminated heading is blue on an arabesque design.
Nasta'liq script - a variant style of Ta'liq which
was developed in the late 15th C. by the Persians -
compouded form the names (Naskh x Ta'liq).

The Khamsa (Quintet), or Five Poems, by Nizami was often
commissioned from the 14th C. onwards + which together
completed in 1010 (Findausi) with the Shahnama (Book of Kings) was considered
essential by a patron for inclusion in his library.
The 5 poems include the tragic story of Layla and
Majnun, children of fival tribes who fall in love with
each other at school + who were kept apart. Majnun
fled to the desert ot live with the animals finally
dying on Laylis grave.

Nizami - his 1st work was the Makhzan ul-Asrar, or Treasury
of Mysteries, composed 1179. This was followed by 4 romantic poems
- The Story of Khusrow + Shirin, taken from ancient Persian
history; the famous Bedouin love story of Majnun + Layla; the
Haft Paiker or Seven Beauties, inwhich he relates the adventures
of the Sassanian King + huntsman Bahram - Gor + his seven wives;
the Fortunes of Alexander or Book of Iskander, an epic after the
manner of Firdawsi
- Parsia's leading romantic poet - Leili + Majnun is the bittersweet
story of 2 lovers whos families, like the Montagus + Capulets,
are sworn enemies; the 2 young people persevere in
thier love but are joined only in death.