Treasures of Islamic Manuscript Painting from the Morgan

Introduction

Although the Morgan is well known for its collection of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, it also holds important Islamic manuscripts full of extraordinary paintings. Since Islam refers to both the religious faith and civilization of Muslims, this online exhibition includes both religious and secular texts. Just as the Qur˒an is central to Islamic life, it is also the centerpiece of this presentation, followed by manuscript pages that illustrate works of science, biography, history, and poetry. Included are such important manuscripts as the Manāfi˓-i hayavān (The Benefits of Animals)—one of the finest surviving Persian examples—and the richest illustrated life of the beloved poet Rūmī (1207–1273). Also featured are pages from the Mughal and Persian albums that Pierpont Morgan acquired in 1911 from Sir Charles Hercules Read, Keeper of British and Medieval Antiquities at the British Museum, and miniatures illustrating the work of great Persian poets.

To learn more about the art and culture of the Islamic world visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art's new Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later South Asia.