English: Lutf 'Ali Beg. Atashkadeh, illustrated and illuminated Persian manuscript on paper with thirty miniatures and a fine contemporary lacquer binding, copied by Mirza Rahim, son of the late Mirza Muhammad, Qajar, Persia, Dated A.H.1216/A.D.1801

28 by 18cm.

265 leaves, 25 lines per page written horizontally and diagonally in one or four columns of neat shikasteh script on cream paper, significant words picked out in red within gold-ruled panels, margins ruled in gold, catchwords in black, 30 miniatures, finely illuminated opening double page, some leaves with repairs mostly restricted to margins, fine contemporary floral lacquer binding

The text complied between 1760 and 1779, is a biography of Persian poets with examples of their work, and illustrated copies are very rare. The author Lutf 'Ali Beg, was in service of the Afsharid dynasty and is reported to have been at Mashhad when Nadir Shah returned to his campaigns in India, and it is interesting to note that five of the thirty miniatures depict scenes of Nadir Shah himself.

The miniatures are of high quality and show unusual compositions, with great attention to the detail of flora. Illustrated manuscripts from the early Qajar period such as the present one are rare. There are thirty miniature paintings in early Qajar style, incorporating some late Safavid elements of costume and landscape. For a list of the miniatures please contact the department.