An Illustrated and Illuminated Leaf from the Siyar-I-Nabi, Ottoman Turkey, 16th Century

Gouache heightened with gold on paper, text above and below the text in one broad column within cloud bands against a gold ground, written in Naskh script in black ink, margins ruled in gold, numbered 18 in red pencil in lower left margin, reverse with 13 lines of text, with catchword in lower left margin, ruled in gold

Commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Murad III in 1594
In the possession of Princess Se'adetlu Bash-Rukhshah-Qadin Hazretleri in 1753
In the possession of Major R.G. Gayer-Anderson, Cairo, circa 1939

In good overall condition, page slightly cropped, slight small tear to lower right quadrant, remnants of silk border once stuck to outer leaf margins, colours exceptionally vivid and gold bright, calligraphy strong and bold, a few minor stains, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This miniature is from the celebrated copy of the 'Life of the Prophet' made for the Ottoman Sultan Murad III in 1594-95. The text, copied by the scribe Mustafa bin Vali in 1003 AH/1594-95 AD, is the Kitab Siyar-i Nabi (Life of the Prophet) of Mustafa bin Yusuf bin `Umar al-Mevlevi al-Erzerumi, known as al-Dharir (the Blind). He had been ordered by the Mamluk Sultan al-Mansur (d.1376 AD) to translate and expand the thirteenth-century Arabic work of Abu'l-Hassan al-Bakri al-Basri. Al-Dharir's finished work was presented to al-Mansur's successor Sultan al-Salih Salah al-Din in 1388 AD. The text recounts the life of the Prophet and the early history of the Islamic community, and expands on various picturesque and miraculous details.

Sultan Murad III's illustrated copy of Mustafa Dharir's Siyar-i Nabi was a monumental commission. In total it contained 814 miniatures in six volumes. Volumes I, II and VI remain in the library of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, volume III is in the Spencer Collection of the New York Public Library, and volume IV is in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin. Volume V is apparently lost. By 1753 volume IV had been separated from the others and was in the private possession of one of the Ottoman princesses. It surfaced in Cairo in the 1930s at which point approximately 53 folios were detached and sold to various collectors, principally Major R.G. Gayer-Anderson (known as Gayer-Anderson Pasha). At about this time Alfred Chester Beatty acquired the remainder of volume IV, which consisted of 490 folios, 136 miniatures and the colophon.

In addition to the volumes in the Topkapi Saray Library, the New York Public Library and the Chester Beatty Library, illustrated leaves are now in the British Museum, London, the Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin, the Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, and the David Collection, Copenhagen. Several have been sold at auction over the last thirty years. For further details see Sotheby's, London, Arts of the Islamic World, 3 May 2001, lot 54. A further leaf was sold in these rooms 24 October 2007, lot 29.

The present leaf is numbered 18 in the outer margin. A summary of the subject and text of the leaf is as follows:

A boy's utmost respect and affection for the Prophet. During a visit to his remote house the visitors realise that the humble house has become a palace and as a divine gift to the pious boy a date palm has bloomed in the garden. The visitors were all shocked and couldn't believe their eyes. The boy was asked how he had not forgotten the Prophet and he replied: "how could one forget His beloved's name."

Murad III's copy of the Siyar-i Nabi has been discussed and illustrated in several publications, including: Minorsky 1958, no.419; Stchoukine 1966, vol.I, pp.84-86, 130-131, 148; Tanindi 1984; Schmitz 1992, no.IV.2; Geneva 1985, no.110; Von Folsach 1990, no.57. For information on Hamza, the Uncle of the Prophet, see EI2, vol.III, pp.152-154, "Hamza bin `Abd al-Muttalib".