Calligraphy framed by an ornamental border with poppies and pairs of birds, from the Late Shah Jahan Album (verso)c. 1653 · Study 1987.153.b

Context from the museum

Treated as a jewel set in gold and floral arabesques, this work is an example of how Mughal patrons held the art of calligraphy in higher esteem than figural painting. This work is unsigned, so the calligrapher remains unknown, but the lines are excerpts from a didactic ode composed by Amir Khusrau (1253–1325) of Delhi, known as the "Parrot of India," one of the most accomplished authors of the Persian language in India. The text itself reads: "Anyone, whether noble or ignoble, who covets wealth, is destined for hell. Aloe-wood and dung, once thrown in the fire, turn to ash. It is hard for an unrefined mind to master sophisticated thought. For the wind to lift up the feet of a mountain is impossible. See to your tasks here and now, for there is mayhem on the Day of Judgment. Draw your water from here, for there is much tumult and mischief out in the sea."

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected overall measurement for Calligraphy framed by an ornamental border with poppies and pairs of birds, from the Late Shah Jahan Album (verso) is 27.3 cm wide and 37.8 cm high, equivalent to approximately 10.7 × 14.9 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.72:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.10 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 9.1% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 136.3 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Calligraphy framed by an ornamental border with poppies and pairs of birds, from the Late Shah Jahan Album (verso) in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 27.3 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?