Walters Ms. W.646, Yusuf and ZulaykhaYūsuf va Zulaykhāيوسف وزليخاJāmī, 1414-1492Nūr al-Dīn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Aḥmad Jāmīنور الدين عبد الرحمان بن احمد جامىAuthor dates preferred by cataloger: d. 898 AH / 1492 CEPrincipal 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 copy of the famous story of Joseph and the Potiphar's wife (Yūsuf va Zulaykhā) by Jāmī (d. 898 AH / 1492 CE). The manuscript was written in India in the late twelfth century AH / eighteenth CE in black nastaʿlīq script. There are forty-seven paintings illustrating the text. The lacquer binding with floral decoration is attributable to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE.BaltimoreThe Walters Art MuseumW.646The primary language in this manuscript is Persian.fols. 1b - 186aYūsuf va Zulaykhāيوسف وزليخاالهى غنچه اميد بكشاى ...

Laid paper

Foliation: ii+187+i22.013.515.08.5

Written obliquely on versos

Two columns; double frame for the text and the marginaliaWritten in black Indian nastaʿlīq script with section headings in redForty-seven illustrations; double-page illuminated incipit with headpiece inscribed with the doxological formula (basmalah), cloud-bands, and a borderBindingBindingThis lacquer binding with floral decoration is attributable to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE.BindingBindingThis lacquer binding with floral decoration is attributable to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE.Incipit page with illuminated headpieceIncipit; headpieceThis incipit page has an illuminated headpiece inscribed with the doxological formula (basmalah) in white ink. The page is also decorated with cloud-bands and a decorated border.Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad into heavenIllustrationKhvājah Faqr, to whom an accompanying poem is dedicated, and his sonsIllustrationKhvājah Faqr, to whom an accompanying poem is dedicated, seated on the throneIllustrationJoseph (with a halo) and prophets in front of AdamIllustrationZulaykhā and her father, King TaymūsIllustrationZulaykhā dreams of JosephIllustrationZulaykhā is cautioned by her nurseIllustrationZulaykhā has her legs chained by her maids in the presence of her fatherIllustrationZulaykhā’s father sends an envoy to the vizier of Egypt with an offer of marriageIllustrationZulaykhā is escorted to Egypt to marry the vizierIllustrationThe vizier of Egypt comes with his retinue to meet ZulaykhāIllustrationZulaykhā, peeking through a hole in her tent, discovers that the vizier is not JosephIllustrationZulaykhā, peeking through a hole in her tent, discovers that the vizier is not JosephIllustrationAn angel brings a staff for Joseph, who, with his father Jacob, prays to GodIllustrationJoseph, asleep beside Jacob, has a dream of the sun and moon bowing to himIllustrationJoseph’s brothers plot against himIllustrationJoseph’s brothers ask their father Jacob to allow Joseph to join them in the countrysideIllustrationJoseph, having been thrown into a well, is comforted by the Archangel GabrielIllustrationJoseph is pulled out of the well by people from a caravan on its way to EgyptIllustrationJoseph bathes in the Nile before the head of the caravan and his peopleIllustrationThe caravan master sells Joseph to the vizier of EgyptIllustrationJoseph is visited by the daughter of Bāzighah of ʿĀdīyān, who declares her love for himIllustrationThe daughter of Bāzighah in her temple, having been robbed of her wealthIllustrationJoseph asks Zulaykhā to let him be a shepherdIllustrationJoseph shepherds a flock of sheep under the watchful eye of Zulaykhā's servantsIllustrationZulaykhā sends her nurse to Joseph to declare her love for himIllustrationJoseph receives Zulaykhā’s nurse and sends back a negative replyIllustrationZulaykhā before Joseph trying to seduce himIllustrationJoseph is approached by beautiful maidens sent to him by ZulaykhāIllustrationZulaykhā shows Joseph her newly built, seven-room palaceIllustrationJoseph takes leave of Zulaykhā, having again been tempted with her amorous entreatiesIllustrationZulaykhā, trying to prevent Joseph from leaving the palace, grabs him by the collarIllustrationJoseph is arrested by the vizier’s guard, having been falsely accused by Zulaykhā of trying to seduce her in her sleepIllustrationThe vizier is instructed by a relative of Zulaykhā regarding Joseph’s torn collarIllustrationJoseph brings in a golden water jar for Zulaykha to wash her hands while her women friends, overcome by his great beauty, injure their fingers while peeling citronsIllustrationJoseph is led to prison on orders from ZulaykhāIllustrationZulaykhā and her nurse visit Joseph in prison at nightIllustrationZulaykhā, regretful over what she has done, looks out of the window that gives on to the prisonIllustrationThe Egyptian king dreams of seven fat and seven lean cowsIllustrationZulaykhā, in the company of the Egyptian women and her nurse, confesses Joseph’s unlawful imprisonment to the kingIllustrationJoseph, released from prison, consults with the king in his capacity as the new vizierIllustrationZulaykhā, after the death of her husband and separated from Joseph, sits in her abode made of reedsIllustrationZulaykhā, having broken to pieces the golden idol, prays to the one true GodIllustrationJoseph, having prayed to God to restore Zulaykhā’s beauty and being directed by God to marry her, orders a priest to prepare the marriage ceremonyIllustrationZulaykhā, enthroned in her newly built palace, in the company of JosephIllustrationJoseph, on horseback, is offered an apple by the Archangel Gabriel and diesIllustrationZulaykhā mourns the death of JosephIllustration

Possibly dates to the thirteenth century AH / nineteenth CE; lacquer (no flap); floral design covering the whole surface of the boards, including the central ovals and pendants

Late 12th century AH / 18th CEIndiaAcquisition note: Made in Dār al-ʿIbādah Yazd, dated Ramaḍān 1236 AH / 1821 CE and signed by the court librarian Mīrzā Bābā; seal underneath: ʿAbduh Jahāngīr, 118[0][?] AH / 1766-7 CE (fol. 1a)Former owner: Muḥammad Valī Mīrzā (fol. 1a)Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters bequestRelevant WorksRichard, Francis. Catalogue des manuscrits persans. (Paris: Bibliothèque nationale, 1989), nos. 356, 359-361, 369.Gacek, Adam. Persian Manuscripts in the Libraries of McGill University: Brief Union Catalogue. (Montreal: McGill University Libraries, 2005), no. 334.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 stylecharterLiturgicalDevotionalScripturalTheologicalLegalHistoricalScientificScientific -- MedicalLiterary -- ProseLiterary -- PoetryPhilosophicalAstrologicalSufiEnglishBookCodexIlluminationIllustrationIndiaIslamicManuscriptMughalPersianWalters Art MuseumLiterature -- Poetry