Calligraphic composition with verse 17.1 of the Qur'an (CBL T 447, f.7...
Calligraphic composition with verse 17.1 of the Qur'an. From the Ottoman album (muraqqa') made between 1730-1754. Persian calligraphy from 16th century. Ottoman illumination from 18th century. Arabic. Thuluth,... More
Al-Fatiha in the Sudani script (CBL Is 1598, f. 1b)
Al-Fatiha in the Sudani script. North-west Africa,19th century. Chester Beatty Library Is 1598, f. 1b
Album leaf (CBL T 426, f.1a) - Public domain illuminated manuscript
Album leaf. From the album of Ottoman calligraphy 'Pious sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and 'Ali'. Arabic. Thuluth script. Naskh script. 1500-1520 (calligraphy), 1700-1800 (illumination). Chester Beatty Libr... More
Amulet with Bhagavatapurana (CBL InE 1478, detail)
Amulet with Bhagavatapurana. Scroll, Northern India, late 18th or early 19th century. Chester Beatty Library InE 1478, detail
Antiphonal folio with decorated initial 'I' (CBL W 195.116)
Antiphonal folio with decorated initial 'I'. Italy, 14th or 15th century. Latin. Chester Beatty Library W 195.116
Anushirvan dictates a letter to the Khaqan of Chin (CBL Per 111.7)
Anushirvan dictates a letter to the Khaqan of Chin. From the "Great Mongol Shahnama". Tabriz, c. 1330 (king's face retouched in late nineteenth century Tehran). Naskh and thuluth script. Chester Beatty Librar... More
Aries (CBL Ar 4119, f.62a) - Public domain dedication image
Aries. From "The Shape of the Stars" (Suwar al-Kawakib) of al-Sufi (d.986). Iran, 1505-05. Chester Beatty Library Ar 4119, f.62a
Bilqis Queen of Sheba Enthroned (CBL T 406.2)
Queen of Sheba Enthroned. From the Book of Solomon (Suleymannama) by Firdausi of Brusa, left half of a double-frontispiece composition. Persian and Arabic. Istanbul, 1480/1510. Chester Beatty Library T 406.2
Bookbinding of the Juz' 2 of the Qur'an (CBL Is 1490A)
Bookbinding of the Juz' 2 of the Qur'an. Leather binding with gold panel-stamped design of central lobed medallion with spiralling floral scrollwork, and with quarter-medallions repeated in the corners, and (i... More
Decorative Illumination. The Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an (CBL Is 1431, f.9a)
Decorative Illumination. The Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1431, f.9a
Decorative Illumination. The Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an (CBL Is 1431, f.8b)
Decorative Illumination. The Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1431, f.8b
Decorative Initial 'H' (ec sunt nomina). Walsingham Bible (CBL W 022, ...
Decorative Initial 'H' from the Book of Exodus. Hec sunt nomina duodecim filiorum Israel (These are the names of the twaelve children of Israel). Walsingham Bible. Latin, Minuscule. Walsingham Abbey, c. 1153. ... More
Decorative Initial 'N'. From 'The City of God' of St Augustine (CBL W ...
Decorative Initial 'N'. From 'The City of God' of St Augustine. Nonantola, Italy, c. 1100. Chester Beatty Library W 043, f.80r detail
Decorative Initial 'I'. Walsingham Bible (CBL W 022, f.8v)
Decorative Initial 'I' from the Book of Genesis. Walsingham Bible. Latin, Minuscule. Walsingham Abbey, c. 1153. Chester Beatty Library W 022, f.8v
Description of the Prophet (Hilya al-nabi), by Hafiz Osman (CBL T 559....
Description of the Prophet (Hilya al-nabi), by Hafiz Osman. Istanbul, 1691-92 (1103 AH). Chester Beatty Library T 559.4
Double Opening of the 'Memorandum for Oculists' by Ali Ibn Isa al-Kahh...
Double Opening of the 'Memorandum for Oculists' (Takhikirat al-kahhalin) by Ali Ibn Isa al-Kahhal. Middle East, 13th century. Chester Beatty Library Ar 4002, ff.103b-104a
Folding fan with figures in garden setting (recto) (CBL C 3066, front)
Folding fan with figures in garden setting (recto). China, Guangdong, c. 1840. Chester Beatty Library C 3066, front
Folio from the Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an (CBL Is 1431, f.285b)
Folio from the Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an. Baghdad 1000-01 (AH 391) Chester Beatty Library Is 1431, f.285b
Folio from the Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an (CBL Is 1431, f.286a)
Folio from the Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an. Decorative illumination. Baghdad, 1000-01 (AH 391). Chester Beatty Library Is 1431, f.286a
Folio with illuminated margins from a Greek Lectionary (CBL W 143.5.1a...
Folio with illuminated margins from a Greek Lectionary. Greek minuscule script. Greece (possibly), c. 1500. Chester Beatty Library W 143.5.1a
Frontispiece of Al-Kawakib al-duriyya by Al-Busiri (CBL Ar 4168, f.1b)
Illuminated frontispiece of "Al-Kawakib al-duriyya fi madh khair al-bariyya" (The Shining Stars in Praise of the Best of Creation) by Al-Busiri made for sultan Qayt Bay (1468-95). Cairo, Egypt. (CBL Ar 4168, f.1b)
Headings for Chapter 1, al-Fatiha, and for Chapter 2, al-Baqara (CBL I...
Headings for Chapter 1, al-Fatiha, and for Chapter 2, al-Baqara. The Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1431, f.9b
Headings for Chapters 108-111 of the Qur'an (CBL Is 1534, f.307b)
Headings for Chapters 108-111 of the Qur'an. Each page (like this one) consists of blocks of shorter lines of small black naskh script, with a longer line of a large muhaqqaq script at the top and bottom of th... More
Heading for Chapter 43, al-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments). The Ruzbihan...
Heading for Chapter 43, al-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments). The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f.354b
Headings for Chapters 112-114 of the Qur'an (CBL Is 1534, f.308a)
Headings for Chapters 112-114 of the Qur'an. Each page (like this one) consists of blocks of shorter lines of small black naskh script, with a longer line of a large muhaqqaq script at the top and bottom of th... More
Heading for Chapter 74, al-Muddaththir (The One Wrapped Up). The Ruzbi...
Heading for Chapter 74, al-Muddaththir (The One Wrapped Up). The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f.421b
Idris Instructing his Children (CBL Per 231, f.22a)
Idris Instructing his Children. From the Qisas al-anbiya (The Tales of the Propeths) by Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Nishapuri. Iran (probably Qazvin), 1570-80. Chester Beatty Library Per 231, f.22a
Illuminated Heading for Chapter 32, al-Sajda (The Prostration) (CBL Is...
Illuminated Heading for Chapter 32, al-Sajda (this heading gives the chapter alternate title al-Tanzil (Revelation). The heading also states that the chapter contains twenty-nine verses [1]). Qur'an, possibly ... More
Illuminated frontispiece, al-Fatiha (The Opening) (CBL Is 1519, f.1b)
Illuminated frontispiece, al-Fatiha (The Opening). Iran, 15th century. Chester Beatty Library Is 1519, f.1b
Illuminated Heading. From the 'Al-Mathnawi al-mana'wi' of Rumi (CBL Pe...
Illuminated Heading. From the 'Al-Mathnawi al-mana'wi' (The Poem of Poems) of Jalal al-Din Rumi. Shiraz (probably), 1442 (AH 846). Chester Beatty Library Per 125, f. 1b
Illuminated heading of the "Siyar-i nabi Volume Four" (CBL T 419, f. 1...
Illuminated heading of the "Siyar-i nabi Volume Four". Turkish. Istanbul, 1594-1595. Chester Beatty Library T 419, f. 1b
Illuminated frontispiece, al-Fatiha (The Opening) (CBL Is 1519, f.2a)
Illuminated frontispiece, al-Fatiha (The Opening). Iran, 15th century. Chester Beatty Library Is 1519, f.2a
Illuminated Opening. The Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an (CBL Is 1431, ff.284b-28...
Illuminated Opening. The Ibn al-Bawwab Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1431, ff.284b-285a
Illuminated Initial 'B' with David playing the lyre (CBL W 040, f.7r, ...
Illuminated Initial 'B' with David playing the lyre. From the Psalter (Gallican). Augsburg, 1240-1260. Chester Beatty Library W 040, f.7r, detail
Illuminated Headings. The Ruzbihan Qur'an (CBL Is 1558, f. 445a)
Second half of an illuminated double-page, with headings for Chapter 112, al-Ikhlas (The Purity of Faith), 113, al-Falaq (Daybreak); and 114, al-Nas (Mankind). The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 15... More
Illuminated Headings. The Ruzbihan Qur'an (CBL Is 1558, f. 444b)
First half of an illuminated double-page, with headings for Chapter 112, al-Ikhlas (The Purity of Faith), 113, al-Falaq (Daybreak); and 114, al-Nas (Mankind). The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f. 444b
Illuminated Tables Used for Divination at the end of Qur'an manuscript...
Illuminated Tables Used for Divination (Falnama) at the end of Qur'an manuscript. Iran, 1567-68 (AH 975). Chester Beatty Library Is 1544, ff.308b-309a
Illustrated Opening. Arabic Translation of Euclid's Elementa (CBL Ar 3...
Illustrated Opening. Ishaq Ibn Hunayn's Arabic Translation of Euclid's Elementa. Baghdad (probably), Iraq, Ad 1270 (AH 699). Chester Beatty Library Ar 3035, ff.105b-106a
Mahasiddha (CBL C 1069) - Public domain dedication image
Mahasiddha. Embroidered silk hanging scroll of a Mahasiddha, made in China with an inscription dated the 12th year of the Zhengde reign, or 1517. Chinese and Tibetan. Chester Beatty Library C 1069
Martyrdom of St Apollonia from the Coëtivy Hours (CBL W 082 f.298r)
Martyrdom of St Apollonia from the Coëtivy Hours. Latin. Paris, 1443-1445. Chester Beatty Library. W 082 f.298r
Martyrdom of St Mark the Evangelist (CBL W 082, f.270r)
Martyrdom of St Mark the Evangelist. Latin. Paris, 1443-1445. Chester Beatty Library W 082, f.270r
Miniature iconostasis (CBL WX 37)
Miniature iconostasis. Russia, 18th century. Chester Beatty Library WX 37 Public domain reproduction of Greek Byzantine medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Pic... More
Missal folio with initial 'S' (CBL W 195.079)
Missal folio with initial 'S'. Italy, 14th or 15th century. Latin. Chester Beatty Library W 195.079
Opening folio from a Qur'an (CBL Is 1614.1)
Opening folio from volume 10 of a 30-volume Qur'an (volume 10 codex is in Tehran Iran Bastan Museum, 3548). Baghdad, c. 1305. Chester Beatty Library Is 1614.1
Opening folio from a Qur'an (CBL Is 1614.2)
Opening folio from volume 10 of a 30-volume Qur'an (volume 10 codex is in Tehran Iran Bastan Museum, 3548). Baghdad, c. 1305. Chester Beatty Library Is 1614.2
Persian calligraphy from an Ottoman album (CBL T 439.7v)
Persian calligraphy from an Ottoman album. Calligraphy 1550-1600, album produced c. 1620 Nasta`liq script. Istanbul. Chester Beatty Library T 439.7v
PLANISPHÆRIVM COPERNICANVM (CBL Rare Books AI788, plate 22)
PLANISPHÆRIVM COPERNICANVM. From the Harmonia Macrocosmica by Andreas Cellarius. Amsterdam, 1661. Chester Beatty Library Rare Books: AI788, plate 22
Rakhsh Kills a Lion while Rustam Sleeps
Shahnama of Shah Abbas I, Rostam's Seven Labours (The First Labor)فارسی: شاهنامه شاه عباس اول، هفتخان رستم، خان اول: نبرد رخش با شیر
Saint Mark the Evangelist (CBL W 139, f.122v)
Saint Mark the Evangelist. From the Byzantine Gospel Book. Greek minuscule script, c. 1100. Chester Beatty Library W 139, f.122v
Scorpio. From the Taqrir of al-Dashtaki (CBL Ar 4220, f73b, detail)
Scorpio. From the Taqrir of al-Dashtaki. Iran, last quarter of the 16th century. Chester Beatty Library Ar 4220, f73b, detail
Second part of illuminated double-page, Heading for Chapter 2, al-Baqa...
Second part of illuminated double-page, Heading for Chapter 2, al-Baqara. The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f.4a
Shamsa. The Ruzbihan Qur'an (CBL Is 1558, f.1b)
Shamsa. The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f.1b
Shamsa. The Ruzbihan Qur'an (CBL Is 1558, f.2a)
Shamsa. The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f.2a
Single page of illumination from the Qur'an manuscript made in Konya, ...
Single page of illumination from the Qur'an manuscript made in Konya, 1278. Chester Beatty Library Is 1466, f. 1a
Study of a Dragon, from an Ottoman album (CBL T 439.7)
Study of a Dragon, folio from an Ottoman album. Calligraphy and drawing 1550-1600, album produced c. 1620. Persian language. Istanbul. Chester Beatty Library T 439.7r
Sufis Performing Sama before Shaykh Nizam al-Din Awliya (CBL Per 163.6...
Sufis Performing Sama before Shaykh Nizam al-Din Awliya. From Khamsa (Five Poems) of Amir Khusrav Dihlavi. Herat, 1485. Chester Beatty Library Per 163.6
Sulayman Enthroned above the Orders of Mankind and the Jinn (CBL T 406...
Sulayman Enthroned above the Orders of Mankind and the Jinn. One half of the double-page painting that introduces a copy of the Sulayman-nama (Book of Solomon). Persian and Arabic. Turkey, c. 1500. Chester Bea... More
Tahmuras Defeating the Divs - Public domain dedication image
Shahnama of Shah Abbas I فارسی: شاهنامه شاه عباس اول، بر تخت نشستن طهمورث و پیدا کردن آئین رشتن و رام کردن جانوران
The Arabic Alphabet. Ottoman Calligraphy (CBL T 490, ff.1b-2a)
The Arabic Alphabet. Ottoman Calligraphy, 18th century. Chester Beatty Library T 490, ff.1b-2a
The Garden of Eden (CBL Arm 551, ff.2v-3r)
The Garden of Eden. From the Abridged Bible in Armenian language. Bolorgir script (cursive/minuscule). Amida, 1601. Chester Beatty Library Arm 551, ff.2v-3r
The Murder of Siyavush (CBL In 36, f.113a)
The Murder of Siyavush. From the Shahnama (Book of Kings). Kangra, India, 1695. Chester Beatty Library In 36, f.113a
The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Illuminated frontispiece, containing Chapter 1, a...
The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Illuminated frontispiece, containing Chapter 1, al-Fatiha. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f.2b
The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Heading for Chapter 18, al-Kahf, marking the midd...
The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Heading for Chapter 18, al-Kahf, marking the middle of the Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f. 208b
The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Illuminated frontispiece containing chapter 1, al...
The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Illuminated frontispiece, containing Chapter 1, al-Fatiha. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f.3a
The Sasanian King Yazdigird Killed by a Kick from a Horse (CBL Per 110...
The Sasanian King Yazdigird Killed by a Kick from a Horse. From the Shahnama (Book of Kings), made for the Injuid vazir Qivam al-Din. Shiraz, 1340-41 (AH 741). Chester Beatty Library Per 110, ff.71a
The simurgh arrives to assist with the birth of Rustam
folio from an illustrated manuscript of the Shahnama Public domain photograph of 17th-century painting, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
The Vision of Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-Jilani (CBL T 474, f.276a)
The Vision of Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-Jilani. Miniature from "Nafahat al-uns" (Breaths of Fellowship) of Jami. Turkey, 1595 (AH 1003). Chester Beatty Library T 474, f.276a
Virgin and Child with Scribe (CBL Arm 566, f. 10r)
Virgin and Child with Scribe. From the Armenian Gospel Book. Khizan, 1451. Chester Beatty Library Arm 566, f. 10r
Yazdagird III flees to the mill in Merv (CBL Per 254.128)
Yazdagird III flees to the mill in Merv. From the Garden of Purity (Rawzat al-safa), by Mir Khvand. Nasta'liq script. Shiraz (probably) 1595. Chester Beatty Library Per 254.128
Zal Rescued by the Simurgh - Public domain dedication image
Shahnama of Shah Abbas I فارسی: شاهنامه شاه عباس اول Public domain scan of 16th-century book, manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Shamsa. Page from the Qur'an (CBL Is 1470, f.1a, detail)
Shamsa. Page from the Qur'an. Maragha, Iran, 1338 (AH 738). Chester Beatty Library Is 1470, f.1a, detail
Christ, the donor and the scribe (CBL Arm 614, f.13v)
Christ, the donor and the scribe. From the Four Gospels. Drazark, 1342. Chester Beatty Library Arm 614, f.13v
Embroidered Binding (CBL BB665, Binding, Front)
Embroidered Binding. Possibly an Italian 18th-century binding of white silk Damask. The book of common prayer and administration of the sacraments. Chester Beatty Library Rare Books: BB665, Binding, Front
Military rank badge with leopard (CBL C 3312)
Military rank badge with leopard. Embroidered silk. China, 19th or early 20th century. Chester Beatty Library C 3312
Illuminated folio. The Ruzbihan Qur'an (CBL Is 1558, f. 209a)
Illuminated folio. The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f. 209a
Prayer to be read upon completion of the Qur'an. The Ruzbihan Qur'an (...
Prayer to be read upon completion of the Qur'an. The Ruzbihan Qur'an. Chester Beatty Library Is 1558, f.445b
Arafat. From the Futuh al-haramayn by Abd al-Rahman al-Lari al-Ansari ...
Arafat. From the Futuh al-haramayn (The Triumph of the Holy Places) by Muhyi al-Din Abd al-Rahman al-Lari al-Ansari. Mecca, 1595. Chester Beatty Library Per 245, f.36b
May from the Hamilton Field Hours (CBL W 094 f.06r)
May from the Hamilton Field Hours. Master of Walters 219. Châlons-sur-Champagne (possibly), France, c. 1420. Chester Beatty Library W 094 f.06r
Antiphonal folio with historiated initial 'E' (CBL W 195.097)
Folio from a choir book with Jesus addressing three apostles in an initial E, introducing 'Ecce ego mitto vos' (Behold, I am sending you) from the first nocturne of the Common of Apostles, attributed to Neri d... More
Antiphonal folio with decorated initial 'A' (CBL W 195.107)
Antiphonal folio with decorated initial 'A'. Latin. Italy, 14th or 15th century. Chester Beatty Library W 195.107
Martyrdom of St. Giustina. From the 'Evangelarium of Santa Giustina' (...
Martyrdom of St. Giustina. From the 'Evangelarium of Santa Giustina' by Benedetto Bordon. Padua, 1523-1525. Chester Beatty Library W.107, f.65r
Martyrdom of St. Stephen. From the 'Evangelarium of Santa Giustina' (C...
Martyrdom of St. Stephen. From the 'Evangelarium of Santa Giustina' by Benedetto Bordon. Padua, 1523-1525. Chester Beatty Library W.107, f.4v
Antiphonal folio with historiated initial 'T' (CBL W 195.117)
Antiphonal folio with historiated initial 'T'. Italy, 14th or 15th century. Latin. Chester Beatty Library W 195.117
Stoning of St Stephen from the Coëtivy Hours (CBL W 082 f.275)
Stoning of St Stephen from the Coëtivy Hours. Latin. Paris, 1443-1445. Chester Beatty Library W 082 f.275
St Nicholas the Wonderworker (CBL WX 18)
St Nicholas the Wonderworker. Russian icon, 18th century. Chester Beatty Library WX 18
St John the Forerunner (CBL WX 40)
St John the Forerunner. Icon, Russia, 19th century. Chester Beatty Library WX 40
Archangel Michael (CBL WX 43) - Public domain dedication image
Archangel Michael. Icon, Russia, 19th century (before 1862). Chester Beatty Library WX 43
Deesis and saints (CBL Wx 47) - Public domain dedication image
Deesis and saints. Icon painted on wooden board with an image of the 'Deesis' - Christ enthroned and flanked by Mary and John the Baptist and other saints. Ottoman Empire (Turkey or Greece), 17th or 18th centu... More
Triptych with Virgin and Child and St Nicholas (CBL WX 23)
Triptych with Virgin and Child and St Nicholas. Icon, Russia, c. 1800. Chester Beatty Library WX 23
Antiphonal folio with decorated initial 'D' (CBL W 195.112)
Folio on parchment in Latin from a choir book with decorated initial D introducing a response on the Feast of Agatha 'Dum ingrederetur beata Agatha in carceram dixit ad judicem' (While entering the prison, the... More