Page 51 - sarah-simblet_sketch-book-for-the-artist

AKHLAQ-I in Arabic. It is n o w k e p t in
RASUL ALLAH of the Staatsbibliothek zu

This is a detail o f a page
from an 18th-century
Turkish manuscnpt a book
of religious e t h i c s w r i t t e n

the O r i e n t a l C o l l e c t i o n s

Berlin, G e r m a n y .

Border The elegant border of
this drawing was mode with a pen
and ruler It cleverly compresses
and defines the composition, so
that overlapping petals and stems
give an impression of fulfillment

and abundance.

Sacred words The central rose is
more solid than any other on the
page. However, look closely and
you will see words written in gold
fluttering over the form of the
flower, fragmenting its detail in
a whisper of prayers.

Stylized motif A fine brush has
been used throughout this drawing

to apply inks and watercolors.
The physical anatomy of the
rosebud has been studied and
translated into a repeated stylized
motif. Note how each bud is
essentially the same shape,
and how the shape has been
repeated freehand.

The Rose of Mohammed

1708

9 1 / 2 x 61/2 in ( 2 4 0 x 1 6 5 m m )
FROM THE TURKISH

M A N U S C R I P T AKHLAQ-I
RASUL ALLAH