Walters Ms. W.635, Collection of poems (divan)Dīvān-i Ḥāfiẓديوان حافظḤāfiẓ, 14th cent.Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfiz al-Shīrāzīشمس الدين محمد حافظ الشيرازىAuthor dates preferred by cataloger: (fl. 8th century AH / 14th CE)Principal catalogerGacek, AdamCatalogerLandau, AmyCatalogerSmith, SitaEditorBockrath, DianeContributorBarrera, ChristinaContributorEmery, DougContributorHerbert, LynleyContributorNoel, WilliamContributorSimpson, ShreveContributorTabritha, ArielContributorToth, Michael B.ContributorValle, ChiaraConservatorJewell, StephanieConservatorQuandt, AbigailThe Walters Art Museum

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This is an illuminated and illustrated Collection of poems (dīvān) by Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfiz al-Shīrāzī (fl. eighth century AH / fourteenth CE), which was produced in India. According to the colophon, the manuscript was completed on the 19th Rajab 1202[?] AH / 1788[?] CE. It opens with a double-page illuminated incipit (fols. 1b-2a) with headpiece that introduces the preface (dībāchah) (fols. 1b-4b), followed by another double-page illuminated incipit with headpiece opening the main text of the Dīvān (fols. 5b-6a). The codex is decorated throughout with square and rectangular panels, as well as horizontal bands with floral decoration marking the end of odes, quatrains, or series of verses. There are forty-nine illustrations. The brown leather binding with medallion and pendants is contemporary with the manuscript.BaltimoreThe Walters Art MuseumW.635The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.fols. 1b - 212bDīvān-i Ḥāfiẓديوان حافظحمد بيعد وثناى بيعد وسڀاس بيقياس...Main text of the Dīvān preceded by a preface (dībāchah) (fols. 1b-4b)tamma tamma tamām shud bi-tārīkh-i nūzdahum /1/ shahr-i Rajab al-murajjab sanat-i 1202[?] /2/Date uncertain (evidence of erasure of second digit)

Laid paper

Foliation: i+ 213+i14.08.09.04.5

Written obliquely on versos

Framing lines in blue, red, gold, and greenWritten in black nastaʿlīq scriptForty-nine illustrations; double-page illuminated incipit with headpiece introducing the preface; double-page illuminated incipit with headpiece introducing the main text; square and rectangular panels with floral decoration on text pages; framing lines in blue, red, gold, and greenIncipit page with illuminated headpieceIncipit; headpieceThis incipit page has an illuminated headpiece inscribed with the doxological formula (basmalah). It introduces the preface (dībāchah) of the work. There is gilt interlinear decoration with a flower and vine gilt border.Incipit page with illuminated headpieceIncipit; headpieceThis incipit page has an illuminated headpiece inscribed with the doxological formula (basmalah) introducing the initial verses of the Dīvān. There is gilt interlinear illumination and rectangular panels with floral motifs in the lower corners of the text area.The Prophet Muhammad (not depicted) ascends on BurāqIllustrationAn angel tells Adam to leave paradiseIllustrationThe martyrdom of Manṣūr al-ḤallājIllustrationKing Solomon sends a hoopoe with a message to Queen ShebaIllustrationThe story of the nightingale continuing to mournIllustrationComparison of two famous couples: Iyāz and Sultan Maḥmūd and Laylá and MajnūnIllustrationA man beside the bed of his beloved with his two rivalsIllustrationḤāfiẓ dreams of a beautiful girl coming to his bedIllustrationA beautiful girl and two gentlemenIllustrationThis illustration seems to depict the lower verse inscribed on the page indicting that it is not necessary to bring a candle to the gathering, as the beautiful face of the woman is illumination enough.An intoxicated girl brings wine to ḤāfiẓIllustrationFarhād in front of Shīrīn’s palaceIllustrationTwo lovers drinking wine in a gardenIllustrationThe hoopoe brings King Solomon good news from Queen ShebaIllustrationMajnūn, surrounded by animals, hopes to see Laylá passIllustrationA festive partyIllustrationKing Solomon upon his throne and dancing demonsIllustrationJamshīd with his courtiersIllustrationJacob visiting Joseph and his brothersIllustrationAlexander the Great and DariusIllustrationAlexander the Great, in search of the Fountain of Life, meets the prophet KhiḍrIllustrationJesus in the company of men and womenIllustrationThis illustration seems to refer to the first couplet on the page: “Wine, like Jesus, gives life to dead bodies.”Ḥāfiẓ pays a visit to his beloved at nightIllustrationAlexander the Great, in search of the Fountain of Life, meets the prophet KhiḍrIllustrationMen drinking wineIllustrationḤāfiẓ tells the story of Kay KāvusIllustrationḤāfiẓ serves wine in the company of a king, a judge, and a policemanIllustrationJacob visits Joseph in EgyptIllustrationḤāfiẓ and Ḥājī QavāmIllustrationSultan Maḥmūd and IyāzIllustrationFarhād visits ShīrīnIllustrationA man playing poloIllustrationThis illustration relates to the lower verse on this page: "The white horse of fortune became tame under you. You rode well into the field, so go forth and hit the ball."Farhād kills himself with a pickaxeIllustrationḤāfiẓ and his beloved with a bottle and a glass of wine in her handsIllustrationGathering on a terraceIllustrationThis scene is supposed to go with the couplet "Considering what the women have done to Kay Kāvus and Kay Khusraw, do not put your faith in them."Majnūn surrounded by animals and Laylá in her tentIllustrationFigures seated around a magic bowlIllustrationThis scene refers to the first couplet on the page, referring to Jamshīd and his magic bowl (jām).Farhād cuts the rocks while Shīrīn and Khusraw pass by on horsebackIllustrationThe empty throne and Jamshīd’s crownIllustration

This scene is supposed to illustrate the verses of this page about the nothingness of this world and worldly things.

Ḥāfiẓ recites poems to his belovedIllustrationḤāfiẓ recites poems before a kingIllustrationA beautiful girl (like an angel) on horseback followed by a crowd of admirersIllustrationA Persian king with his courtiersIllustrationLaylá and Majnūn and an old messenger who arranged their meetingIllustrationRustam in the wellIllustrationTwo seated figures in discussionIllustrationThis scene refers to the verse about the passing of kings into oblivion, advising that one should not spend life without drink and merrymaking.A man in the company of merrymaking friendsIllustrationḤāfiẓ comes to visit his belovedIllustrationA festive party with music and wineIllustrationJacob questions his sons after they threw Joseph into the wellIllustration

Brown leather with inlaid medallions and pendants (no flap)

19th Rajab 1202[?] AH / 1788[?] CEIndiaWalters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequestRelevant WorksRichard, Francis. Catalogue des manuscrits persans. (Paris: Bibliothèque nationale, 1989), no. 272.ArtMedicineMuseumPoetryScriptMuhammad, the ProphetRomaniaKashmiriHorsesWalters Art MuseumBlockbookDocumentGeneologyAstrologyDevotionHistoryLegalLiterature -- PoetryLiterature -- ProseLiturgyPhilosophyScienceScience -- MedicineScriptureSufismTheologyMineralogyLogicGeographyGeomancyCosmologyCartographyFortune-tellingKoranQur`anFirmanPalimpsestPrayerBibleGospelsPsalterMissalLectionaryBook of HoursAntiphonaryPrayerbookHomilaryProcessionalHorologionBreviaryHymnalChroniclePsalter/HoursMaghrebSub-Saharan (West) AfricaTurkeyAfghanistanCentral Arab Lands (Near East)Central AsiaEgyptEnglandIndiaIranIraqPakistanGermanyFranceAustriaNetherlandsEthiopiaArmeniaFlandersGreeceMamlukMughalOttomanOttonianArmenianByzantineAbbasidQajarRajputChristianArabicAustrianDutchEgyptianFatimidGermanIndianIslamicPersianSafavidTimuridTurkishUmayyadEnglishFrenchFlemishEthiopianCarolingianCalligraphyChartsColophonHeadpieceIlluminationIllustrationMedallionMiniatureOrnamentPainting'Kufic'Early Abbasid scriptRaginiRomanesqueGothicWatermarkTreasure BindingGrotesquesHistoriated initialInhabited initialCarolingian MinusculeGothic Book handWhite-vine letteringEnglish secretaryTexturaBatardaHumanisticUncialAccordion bookAlbumBookCodexManuscriptHeraldrySaint's LifeDrawingGrisailleOriginal BindingBindingNew Abbasid styleLiturgicalDevotionalScripturalTheologicalLegalHistoricalScientificScientific -- MedicalLiterary -- ProseLiterary -- PoetryPhilosophicalAstrologicalSufiEnglishBookCodexColophonIlluminationIllustrationIndiaIslamicManuscriptPersianWalters Art MuseumSufismLiterature -- PoetryOriginal Binding