Thursday, November 23, 2017

QASH-MASTAN BY HUSAYN VA'IZ KASHIFI


HUSAYN VA'IZ KASHIFI (died 1504-1505) 
Qash-Mastan (4,409 m - 14, 465 ft) 
Iran 

 In Anvār-i Suhaylī or Lights of Canopus, illuminated persian manuscript on paper, 

The mountain 
Qash-Mastan (4,409 m - 14, 465 ft)  is the highest of the 40 peaks of Mount Dena (in Persian and Luri: دنا)  a sub-range within the Zagros Mountains.  Mount Dena has more than 40 peaks higher than 4000 metres. With 80 km length and 15 km average width,  IT is situated on the boundary of the Isfahan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces (Iran).  Another famous peak in this range is Hose-Daal close to the city of Sisakht, 30 km to the north of Yasuj.  Geologically, Mount Dena is located in the Sanandaj-Sirjan geologic and structural zone of Iran and is mainly made of Cretaceous limestone.

The book 
Walters Art Museum manuscript W.599 is an illuminated and illustrated copy of Anvar-i Suhayli (The lights of Canopus), dating to the 13th century AH/AD 19th.
It is a Persian version of Kalilah wa-Dimnah (The fables of Bidpay). It was completed on 26 Jumadá I 1264 AH/AD 1847 by Mirza Rahim. The text is written in Nasta'liq script in black and red ink, revealing the influence of Shikastah script. There are 123 paintings illustrating the text. The Qajar binding is original to the manuscript.