Artwork

From the Farhang-i Jahangiri (Persian-language Dictionary) compiled by Mir Jamal al-Din Husayn Inju of Shiraz (Persian, d. 1626)

From the Farhang-i Jahangiri (Persian-language Dictionary) compiled by Mir Jamal al-Din Husayn Inju of Shiraz (Persian, d. 1626) is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1608 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The folio presents a page from the Farhang‑i Jahāngīrī, a Persian lexicon compiled in the early seventeenth century.

Accession no.: 2013.318
Credit line: Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection

About this work

Overview

The folio presents a page from the Farhang‑i Jahāngīrī, a Persian lexicon compiled in the early seventeenth century. The text is rendered in a compact black calligraphy on cream‑coloured paper, accompanied by a miniature portrait of a princely figure dressed in a red robe and a gold‑embroidered turban.

Subject & Meaning

The miniature serves as a visual dedication to the Mughal ruler after whom the dictionary is named, symbolising the patronage that enabled the scholarly work. The portrait does not illustrate a narrative scene but rather functions as an emblem of imperial authority linked to the linguistic project.

Technique & Style

The calligraphic script follows the Nastaʿlīq style, noted for its flowing, diagonal strokes and elegant curvature, typical of Persian literary manuscripts. The miniature employs the refined Mughal painting tradition, with delicate brushwork, a limited palette, and careful attention to textile patterning and ornamental detail.

History & Provenance

Compiled over twelve years by Mir Jamal al‑Din Husayn Injū, a Shiraz‑born scholar who spent much of his career in Agra, the dictionary contains more than nine thousand entries, each illustrated with verses from classical Persian poets. The work was dedicated to Emperor Jahangir, who reigned from 1605 to 1627, reflecting the cultural exchange between Persia and Mughal India.