Early Islamic Illustrations

Miniatures

I- Early Islamic Illustrations

Although the extent to which the early Islamic dynasties depend upon their pre-Islamic past was limited, this was much less true for the natural sciences like physics, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, botany, and chemistry. There are records of the Umayyad Caliphs' attempts to obtain scientific manuscripts of Byzantium, Iran or India. Under the Abbasids in Baghdad, this movement gained strength (800's). Persian, Egyptian, North African, Spanish and Central Asian (Samanid library) manuscripts were the results of the learnings of the dispersed Abbasid Court. The following illustrations are mostly from these scientific books. There are also illustrations of Kalila wa Dimna and some Persian fables of the same era.

Wash-basin in the form of a peacock
Illustrations from al-Jazari, Kitab fi Ma'rifat al-Hiyal al-Handisayya
Muhammad b. Yusuf
Uthman al-Haskafi Sha'ban 6002/ March 1205
folio 136a

Two Horsemen
Kitab al-Baytara ('Book of Farriery')
by Ahmed ibn al-Husayn ibn al-Ahnaf.
Baghdad,1210.
Ahmed III 2115, folio 58a

Dioscrorides and a pupil
De Materia Medica of Dioscorides.
by Yusuf al Mawsili
Mosul, Dec. 1228. folio 2b

Grape vine
De Materia Medica of Dioscorides.
by Yusuf al Mawsili
Mosul, Dec. 1228. folio 252b

Mustard Plant and Seeds
De Materia Medica of Dioscorides.
Syria, 1229.
Ahmed III 2127, folio 83b

Choice Judgements and Improving Sayings
Mukhtar al-Hikam wa Mahasin al-Kalim
by Al-Mubashshir.
Syria, 1200-50.
Ahmed III 3206, folio 48a

Socrates and his Students
Mukhtar al-Hikam wa-Mahasin al-Kalim ('Choice Maxims and Finest Sayings')
by Al-Mubashshir.
Syria, beginning of 13th century.
Ahmed III 3206, folio 40a

Sophocles and his Students
Mukhtar al-Hikam wa Mahasin al-Kalim ('Choice Maxims and Finest Sayings')
by Al-Mubashshir.
Syria, beginning of 13th century.
Ahmed III 3206, folio 19b

The Dog and its Reflection
Kalila wa Dimna.
Baghdad, first half of 13th century.
Hazine 363, folio 32b

The Birdcatcher and the Doves
Kalila wa Dimna.
Baghdad, first half of 13th century.
Hazine 363, folio 99b

Varka and Gulshah
Varka wa Gulshah.
Shiraz, first half of 13th century.
Hazine 841, folio 33b

Gulshah kills the Enemy of her Beloved
Varka wa Gulshah.
Shiraz, first half of 13th century.
Hazine 841, folio 22a

	Wash-basin in the form of a peacock Illustrations from al-Jazari, Kitab fi Ma'rifat al-Hiyal al-Handisayya Muhammad b. Yusuf Uthman al-Haskafi Sha'ban 6002/ March 1205 folio 136a
	Two Horsemen Kitab al-Baytara ('Book of Farriery') by Ahmed ibn al-Husayn ibn al-Ahnaf. Baghdad,1210. Ahmed III 2115, folio 58a
	Dioscrorides and a pupil De Materia Medica of Dioscorides. by Yusuf al Mawsili Mosul, Dec. 1228. folio 2b
	Grape vine De Materia Medica of Dioscorides. by Yusuf al Mawsili Mosul, Dec. 1228. folio 252b
	Mustard Plant and Seeds De Materia Medica of Dioscorides. Syria, 1229. Ahmed III 2127, folio 83b
	Choice Judgements and Improving Sayings Mukhtar al-Hikam wa Mahasin al-Kalim by Al-Mubashshir. Syria, 1200-50. Ahmed III 3206, folio 48a
	Socrates and his Students Mukhtar al-Hikam wa-Mahasin al-Kalim ('Choice Maxims and Finest Sayings') by Al-Mubashshir. Syria, beginning of 13th century. Ahmed III 3206, folio 40a
	Sophocles and his Students Mukhtar al-Hikam wa Mahasin al-Kalim ('Choice Maxims and Finest Sayings') by Al-Mubashshir. Syria, beginning of 13th century. Ahmed III 3206, folio 19b
	The Dog and its Reflection Kalila wa Dimna. Baghdad, first half of 13th century. Hazine 363, folio 32b
	The Birdcatcher and the Doves Kalila wa Dimna. Baghdad, first half of 13th century. Hazine 363, folio 99b
	Varka and Gulshah Varka wa Gulshah. Shiraz, first half of 13th century. Hazine 841, folio 33b
	Gulshah kills the Enemy of her Beloved Varka wa Gulshah. Shiraz, first half of 13th century. Hazine 841, folio 22a