Minatures

Miniatures hold a privileged place in the history of the Islamic art of the book. True works of painting created to illustrate manuscripts, poetry collections, and prestigious albums, they reflect the aesthetic refinement and intellectual richness of the great civilizations of the Islamic world.

The Fondation ADLANIA’s collection of miniatures brings together works from various regions and periods, particularly from Persia, the Ottoman world, and Mughal India. Portraits of spiritual masters, scenes of devotion, dervishes, distinguished figures, poetic compositions, and symbolic representations coexist in a world where painting, calligraphy, and literature engage in a harmonious dialogue.

Beyond their artistic excellence, these miniatures offer valuable insight into the imagination, values, and sensibilities that have shaped the cultures of the Islamic world. Through this selection, the Fondation ADLANIA contributes to the preservation and promotion of an iconographic heritage of exceptional richness, where art becomes at once a vehicle of memory, transmission, and contemplation.

Reading and Contemplation Scene

ICO 39

Persian miniature depicting a man seated before an open book, accompanied by a young woman standing beside him and holding a small vessel. Around them are various objects associated with reading, writing, and refined courtly life, while calligraphic verses frame the composition. The work brings together poetry, knowledge, and elegance in a scene imbued with serenity and contemplation, characteristic of the Persian pictorial tradition.

Estimated date: 17th–18th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran)

Portrait of a Sufi Master at Prayer

ICO 7

A miniature depicting a figure wearing a turban and a flowing robe, holding a prayer bead necklace (misbaha) in his hands in an attitude of devotion and prayer. The simplicity of the composition focuses attention on the master’s figure, whose posture conveys spiritual contemplation and deep piety. The delicacy of the drawing and the elegance of the brushwork reflect the refinement of the Persian and Indo-Islamic artistic traditions.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia or the Mughal Empire (India)

Portrait of a Noble Archer

ICO 40

A Persian miniature depicting a seated figure holding a bow, dressed in a sumptuous blue robe and wearing an ornate turban. Framed by Persian calligraphic verses, the composition combines portraiture, poetry, and the art of the book in a refined and harmonious layout. The figure’s posture and the presence of the bow evoke the ideals of nobility, courage, and elegance celebrated in Persian literature and artistic traditions.

Estimated date: 17th–18th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran)

Dervish at Prayer

ICO 56

Miniature depicting a dervish kneeling on a prayer rug, his hands raised in supplication. Holding a prayer bead string (misbaha), he is shown in a setting suggestive of a place of retreat or devotion, while a crescent moon appears in the landscape in the background. The simplicity of the composition emphasizes contemplation and the spiritual quest, which are central themes of the Sufi tradition.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran) or the Indo-Persian world

Master and Disciples in Assembly

ICO 1

A miniature depicting a master and two disciples gathered in a scene of teaching and the transmission of knowledge. The composition is framed by an elaborate floral border and enlivened by a refined palette of delicate colors, characteristic of Persian and Mughal manuscript art. The work illustrates the importance of learning, dialogue, and the transmission of knowledge within the scholarly traditions of the Islamic world.

Estimated date: 16th–18th century

Geographical origin: Persia or the Mughal Empire (India)

Portrait of a Young Traveler

ICO 69

A miniature depicting a young figure holding a musical instrument and accompanied by a small dog. Clad in a light draped cloak and adorned with various accessories suspended from his body, he is portrayed within a sparse landscape that highlights the elegance of his silhouette. The delicacy of the drawing and the graceful demeanor of the figure evoke themes of travel, music, and itinerant life, which are frequently encountered in Persian and Indo-Persian pictorial traditions.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran) or the Indo-Persian world

Sufi Holding the Sphere of the World

ICO 78

Miniature depicting a haloed Sufi master holding in his hands a sphere surmounted by a crown. This symbolic composition evokes mastery over the passions, detachment from the material world, and the supremacy of spiritual wisdom over temporal power. The luminous halo surrounding the figure’s head emphasizes his spiritual stature, while the crowned sphere may be interpreted as a representation of the earthly world placed under the authority of inner knowledge. The simplicity of the scene and the strength of its symbolism reflect the richness of the mystical imagination found in Persian and Indo-Islamic pictorial traditions.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran) or the Indo-Persian world

Pilgrim in Prayer at a Tomb

ICO 67

Miniature depicting a man holding a book or prayer book, standing beside a tomb within a funerary setting. The presence of gravestones, a small mausoleum, and the figure’s contemplative posture suggests a pious visit or an invocation at a place of remembrance. The delicacy of the drawing and the architectural details reflect the refinement of Persian painting traditions, in which themes of devotion, memory, and contemplation hold a prominent place.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran) or the Indo-Persian world

Portrait of a Master in Contemplation

ICO 76

A miniature depicting a figure dressed in a flowing robe and a turban, holding a prayer bead strand (misbaha) in his hands in an attitude of quiet contemplation. The simplicity of the composition, centered on the solitary figure against a plain background, emphasizes the subject’s serenity and the depth of his inner spiritual life. This work illustrates themes of contemplation, prayer, and devotion, which are frequently represented in Persian and Indo-Islamic painting traditions.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran) or the Indo-Persian world

Portrait of a Young Noble

ICO 29

Miniature depicting a young nobleman dressed in an elegant striped robe and wearing a large turban. The calligraphic cartouches most likely identify him as the son of a dignitary named Khān Jahān. The restrained composition highlights the grace of the figure and the refinement of his attire, characteristic of portraits produced in Persian and Mughal ateliers. This work reflects the importance accorded to the representation of the elite in the manuscript arts of the Islamic world.

Estimated date: 17th–18th century

Geographical origin: Persia or the Mughal Empire (India)

Old Man with a Walking Stick

ICO 77

Miniature depicting an elderly man leaning on a walking stick and carrying a book tucked under his arm. His stooped posture, long white beard, and attentive gaze evoke experience, wisdom, and the spiritual journey. The simplicity of the composition highlights the figure of the traveler or sage, a theme frequently depicted in Persian and Indo-Persian painting traditions.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran) or the Indo-Persian world

Young Woman Holding a Cup and an Incense Burner

ICO 5

Persian miniature depicting an elegant young woman dressed in a richly adorned costume decorated with floral motifs. Holding a cup and an incense burner, she is surrounded by calligraphic cartouches containing Persian verses attributed to Hakim Rudaki, one of the earliest poets of Persian literature. The delicacy of the drawing, the refinement of the garments, and the harmony of the colors reflect the richness of the Persian pictorial tradition. This work brings together poetry, calligraphy, and painting in a composition celebrating the beauty, elegance, and sensitivity of Persian culture.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran)

Portrait of a Dervish Holding a Flower

ICO 19

A miniature depicting a bearded dervish holding a flower in a contemplative pose. Clad in a flowing robe with a shawl draped over his shoulders, he stands within a stylized landscape enlivened by lush vegetation. The flower, a recurring symbol of spiritual beauty and the inner quest in Persian culture, lends the scene a poetic and mystical dimension. The elegance of the drawing and the harmony of the composition reflect the refinement of the Persian miniature tradition.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical origin: Persia (Iran) or the Indo-Persian world

Portrait of Sheikh Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī

ICO 2

Miniature depicting Sheikh Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī seated in a posture of meditation or teaching, holding a prayer bead string (misbaha) in his hands. Framed by calligraphic cartouches and richly illuminated decoration, this work reflects the eminent place occupied by the saint in the spiritual memory of the Muslim world. The composition combines devotional portraiture, calligraphy, and the arts of the book in the tradition of Persian and Indo-Islamic workshops.

Estimated date: 17th–19th century

Geographical provenance: Persia or the Mughal Empire (India)

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