Islamic Culture and the Medical Arts

Visual Catalog of the Illustrations (Part 6/9)

(Supplementary Illustrations, Part 1/4)

The following material did not appear in the printed brochure accompanying the original exhibit, although some of the images may have appeared in the exhibit in the form of originals or reproductions.

Volume 1 folio 2a of Kitāb al-Burhān fī asrār ‘ilm al-mīzān (Proof Regarding the Secrets of the Science of the Balance) by al-Jaldakī. The paper is ivory and lightly glossed. The text is written in a large Maghribi script using black ink, with significant words in gold (outlined in black) or in red, green or blue. The text is written within frames of blue, black, and gold fillets. These frames are then set within larger frames formed of two fine black lines with gold between.

From the alchemical treatise, Kitāb al-Burhān fī asrār ‘ilm al-mīzān (The Book of the Proof Regarding the Secrets of the Science of the Balance) by `Izz al-Din Aydamir al-Jildaki, d. 1342. Undated copy made in Morocco in the late 19th century,
NLM MS A 7 pt. 1, fol. 2a.

Folio 369a of Abū ‘Alī al-Husayn ibn ‘Abd Allāh Ibn Sīnā's Kitāb al-Qānūn fī al-Tibb (The Canon on Medicine). The text is written on a thin brown paper in small to very small nasta‘liq,with headings in naskh. Black ink with headings in red. frame of blue, black and red ink and gilt has been drawn around the text area; a larger frame of a single blue ink line is also on the bordering frame.

From the Kitāb al-Qānūn fī al-tibb (The Canon of Medicine) by Ibn Sina, d. 1037/428 H. A rare complete copy made in Iran probably at the beginning of the 15th century.
NLM MS A 53, fol. 369a.

A full-page miniature drawing in black ink with gilt and blue and red accents. Two women are sitting in front of bolster pillows, talking and drinking and attended by four attendants. From an anonymous and untitled collection of Persian love poetry. The gray-brown, semi-glossy paper has horizontal, sagging laid lines.

One of several illustrations accompanying anonymous poetry. Undated: possibly 18th cent. India, possibly Kashmir.
NLM MS P 24, fol. 15b.

A full-page miniature drawing in black ink with gilt and blue and red accents. An ascetic sits on a mountain side while pairs of animals (tigers, antelope, birds, and foxes) sit quietly around him. From an anonymous and untitled collection of Persian love poetry. The gray-brown, semi-glossy paper has horizontal, sagging laid lines.

One of several illustrations accompanying anonymous poetry. Undated: possibly 18th cent. India, possibly Kashmir.
NLM MS P 24, fol. 18a.

A full-page miniature drawing in black ink with gilt and blue and red accents. A man and a woman sit on a swing, partially embracing while two female attendants stand on either side. From an anonymous and untitled collection of Persian love poetry. The gray-brown, semi-glossy paper has horizontal, sagging laid lines.

One of several illustrations accompanying anonymous poetry. Undated: possibly 18th cent. India, possibly Kashmir.
NLM MS P 24, fol. 22b.

Folio 187b from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring a simurgh (‘anqa', a mythical bird) and, above, a bird that appears to be a hoopoe but is labeled 'aq'aq (magpie). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

Illustration from the ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) composed in the 13th cent. by Zakariya' ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini. Undated: possibly produced in provincial 18th cent. Mughal India, possibly Punjabi.
NLM MS P 2, fol. 187b.

Folio 50a from Ibn al-Nafīs's Kitāb al-Mūjiz (The Concise Book) featuring a diagram of the eye and visual system . The highly-glossed, brown, thin paper has wavy vertical laid lines. The text is written in a medium-small, elegant, professional naskh script. The text area is frame-ruled. Black ink with headings in red; there are also black overlinings highlighted with red.

Eye diagram in red and black ink. From an abridgement of the Qanun (Canon) of Ibn Sina by Ibn al-Nafis. Possibly 17th cent.
NLM MS A 43, fol. 50a.

Folio 171a from Zakarīyā’ ibn Muḥammad al-Qazwīnī's Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) featuring three animals: a dog-like animal labeled filw (meaning a colt of a horse or ass) at the top, a pink cheetah (fahd) in the middle, and at the bottom an elephant (fil). The thin, brittle, lightly glossed, fibrous, yellow-brown paper has horizontal laid lines. The illustrations are set within frames of two red and one blue lines.

Folios 32b and 33a from al-Majusi's Complete Book of the Medical Art (Kitāb Kāmil al-ṣinā‘ah al-ṭibbīyah). The lightly-glossed biscuit paper has evenly scattered large fibers and sagging horizontal laid lines. The text is written in a medium-large, widely-spaced, careful naskh script with occasional vocalization. Brown ink fading to a lighter shade.

From the Kitāb Kāmil al-sinā‘ah al-tibbīyah (The Complete Book of the Medical Art) by `Ali ibn al-`Abbas al-Majusi, d. 994/384 H. The copy was finished on 15 May 1208 (7 Dhu al-Qa`dah 604 H.)
NLM MS A 26.1, fols. 32b-33a.

Pages 26 and 27 from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn al-Kattani's Mu`alajat al-amrad al-khatirah al-badiyah `ala al-badan min kharij (The Treatment of Dangerous Diseases Appearing Superficially on the Body). The pages are made of a thick, glossy, light-beige paper with laid lines, single chain lines, and watermarks. The text is written in a medium-small naskh script, with black ink and headings in red.

From the Mu‘alajat al-amrāḍ al-khaṭirah al-bādiyah ‘alá al-badan min khārij (The Treatment of Dangerous Diseases Appearing Superficially on the Body) by Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn al-Kattani, 11th cent. Undated: possibly 18th cent.
NLM MS A 91, p. 26-27.

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