Ideals of Leadership — Masterpieces from the Aga Khan Museum

Home , Hermit (horse), Islamic miniature

Ideals of Leadership Masterpieces from the Aga Khan Museum Collections

ceremonials. ceremonials. The Aga Khan Museum, AKM72 Museum, Khan Aga The

complexes, often key sites for court court for sites key often complexes,

the establishment of royal garden garden royal of establishment the Opaque watercolour, gold, and ink on paper on ink and gold, watercolour, Opaque

yet another aspect of royal patronage: patronage: royal of aspect another yet Qazvin, Iran, 1576-77 Iran, Qazvin,

his architectural commissions. architectural his The Aga Khan Museum, AKM703 Museum, Khan Aga The scene depicted here in turn alludes to to alludes turn in here depicted scene seeks to promote dialogue, tolerance and mutual understanding among people. people. among understanding mutual and tolerance dialogue, promote to seeks

panel was probably meant for one of one for meant probably was panel Attributed to Sadiqi Beg Beg Sadiqi to Attributed miniature painter in his own right. The The right. own his in painter miniature

heritage. Through education, research, and collaboration, the Aga Khan Museum Museum Khan Aga the collaboration, and research, education, Through heritage. exquisite decoration, this star-shaped star-shaped this decoration, exquisite Ivory, wood, and metal in a wooden frame wooden a in metal and wood, Ivory, (Book of Kings) of Shah Isma’il Isma’il Shah of Kings) of (Book library and also an accomplished accomplished an also and library

size, the materials used and the the and used materials the size, Egypt, 1470s Egypt, Shahnameh Shahnameh dispersed a from Folio Beg, the future director of the royal royal the of director future the Beg,

appreciation of the contribution that Muslim civilisations have made to world world to made have civilisations Muslim that contribution the of appreciation

Sultan Qaitbay (r. 1468-1496). Given its its Given 1468-1496). (r. Qaitbay Sultan atelier. This example mentions Sadiqi Sadiqi mentions example This atelier.

in this case most probably the Mamluk Mamluk the probably most case this in Heraldic Blazon Heraldic important artists of the Safavids’ royal royal Safavids’ the of artists important Father Pashang Father

the Iberian Peninsula to China. Its mission is to foster a greater understanding and and understanding greater a foster to is mission Its China. to Peninsula Iberian the

were usually the prerogative of a ruler, a of prerogative the usually were

inscriptions that name some of the most most the of some name that inscriptions Star-Shaped Panel with Panel Star-Shaped Afrasiyab Talking with His His with Talking Afrasiyab

the one at the centre of this artefact, artefact, this of centre the at one the

d. 1577). Many of its miniatures bear bear miniatures its of Many 1577). d. intellectual, and scientific heritage of Muslim civilizations across the centuries from from centuries the across civilizations Muslim of heritage scientific and intellectual,

1517. Epigraphic heraldic emblems, like like emblems, heraldic Epigraphic 1517. rulers of Iran, Shah Isma'il (b. 1533-34, 1533-34, (b. Isma'il Shah Iran, of rulers

who ruled Egypt and Syria from 1250 to to 1250 from Syria and Egypt ruled who learning and offers visitors a window into worlds unknown or unfamiliar: the artistic, artistic, the unfamiliar: or unknown worlds into window a visitors offers and learning been completed for one of the Safavid Safavid the of one for completed been

Islamic world is unique to the Mamluks, Mamluks, the to unique is world Islamic believed to have have to believed Shahnameh the of

through history binding us all together. The Museum is a centre of education and of of and education of centre a is Museum The together. all us binding history through The use of blazons or emblems in the the in emblems or blazons of use The This painting comes from a manuscript manuscript a from comes painting This

and new perspectives into Islamic civilisations and the cultural threads that weave weave that threads cultural the and civilisations Islamic into perspectives new and

The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, established in 2014, offers unique insights insights unique offers 2014, in established Canada, Toronto, in Museum Khan Aga The

usually reserved for poetry and prose. and poetry for reserved usually century onwards. century 16 the from The Aga Khan Museum, AKM914 Museum, Khan Aga The The Aga Khan Museum, AKM484 Museum, Khan Aga The

Masterpieces from the Aga Khan Museum Collections Museum Khan Aga the from Masterpieces

century Persian calligraphers Persian century 16 of script

rulers and noblemen of Iran and India India and Iran of noblemen and rulers

nasta‘liq in written is script, the favoured favoured the script, became a worldly status symbol among among symbol status worldly a became Porcelain, underglaze-painted Porcelain, Opaque watercolour, gold and ink on paper on ink and gold watercolour, Opaque

the ruler himself. Unusually, this example example this Unusually, himself. ruler the increasingly that device smoking a ), huqqa ( Kangxi period, China, 1662-1722 China, period, Kangxi Iran, ca. 1507-15 ca. Iran,

including members of the court or indeed indeed or court the of members including vessel once formed part of a water pipe pipe water a of part formed once vessel

Leadership: About the Aga Khan Museum Khan Aga the About

commissioned by high-ranking patrons, patrons, high-ranking by commissioned households. This delicately painted painted delicately This households. Signed by Ishaq al-Shahabi Ishaq by Signed Blue-and-White Base Blue-and-White Huqqa

their masterly skills – were regularly regularly were – skills masterly their show and for use in royal and imperial imperial and royal in use for and show

artists who – based on the reputation of of reputation the on based – who artists exquisite palace collections, both for for both collections, palace exquisite Surah al-Fatiha Surah

both the calligrapher and the illuminator, illuminator, the and calligrapher the both centuries, and many rulers established established rulers many and centuries, Ideals of Ideals Illuminated Album Page with with Page Album Illuminated

and execution provided a showcase for for showcase a provided execution and at the courts of the Islamic world over over world Islamic the of courts the at

use of gold and lapis lazuli. Its design design Its lazuli. lapis and gold of use as other export wares were highly valued valued highly were wares export other as

as a double-page frontispiece with lavish lavish with frontispiece double-page a as Chinese blue-and-white porcelain as well well as porcelain blue-and-white Chinese

Art and Culture and Art chapter of the Qur’an, often composed composed often Qur’an, the of chapter

Surah al-Fatiha Surah The is the opening opening the is Patronage of Architecture, Architecture, of Patronage

painted container for scribal implements. scribal for container painted development. The Aga Khan Museum, AKM280.40 Museum, Khan Aga The The Aga Khan Museum, AKM622 Museum, Khan Aga The

and inkwell, a steel pen and a delicately delicately a and pen steel a inkwell, and patronage – architecture and urban urban and architecture – patronage

pen rests, ink wells, a silver gilt penbox penbox gilt silver a wells, ink rests, pen folio refers to another key aspect of royal royal of aspect key another to refers folio Opaque watercolour, ink, gold and silver on paper on silver and gold ink, watercolour, Opaque Various materials Various

Masterpieces from the Aga Khan Museum Collections Museum Khan Aga the from Masterpieces

scissors and a steel rule all inlaid in gold, gold, in inlaid all rule steel a and scissors fantastical fortified city depicted in this this in depicted city fortified fantastical Ottoman Turkey, 1593-94 Turkey, Ottoman century –19 18 Turkey, Ottoman

th th

beautiful writing. This set includes steel steel includes set This writing. beautiful sensibilities. At the same time, the the time, same the At sensibilities.

Leadership: shown here contributed to the creation of of creation the to contributed here shown Selection of Scribal Implements Implements Scribal of Selection of Ali b. Nakib Hamz Nakib b. Ali of have had the highest aesthetic aesthetic highest the had have

tools and implements like the ones ones the like implements and tools Tuhfet ul-Leta’if ul-Leta’if Tuhfet of manuscript the From befitting for a royal patron, who would would who patron, royal a for befitting

scripts. Some believed that beautiful beautiful that believed Some scripts. of the calligraphy and the paintings are are paintings the and calligraphy the of

differently cut nibs used for different different for used nibs cut differently Murad III (r. 1574-1595). The quality The 1574-1595). (r. III Murad

Marvellous City of Dar ul-Bekam Dar of City Marvellous

Ideals of Ideals

one time, with different sizes and and sizes different with time, one and illustrated for the Ottoman Sultan Sultan Ottoman the for illustrated and Companions Before The The Before Companions

pher would have many reed pens at any any at pens reed many have would pher to which this folio belongs was copied copied was belongs folio this which to

Shah Ramin and His and Ramin Shah

- calligra A pen. reed or qalam the was his beloved Mah-Pervin. The manuscript manuscript The Mah-Pervin. beloved his Manners Good

The primary tool of Islamic calligraphy calligraphy Islamic of tool primary The adventures of prince Shah Rahim and and Rahim Shah prince of adventures

Erudition and and Erudition

charts the the charts ul-Leta’if Tuhfet The

Ideal Governance ‘In sympathy he was like Jacob, in Benevolence Fairness, Justice and Honour comeliness like Joseph, in fortitude like The exhibition, Ideals of Leadership: Masterpieces from the Aga Khan Museum John, in sovereignty like Solomon’ states Collections, marks two special events taking place in Lisbon in July 2018: the celebration the poem above the seated figure in this miniature. The use of Old and New The King who Forgave a Man who th Abu Muslim was a controversial of the Diamond Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan as the 49 hereditary Imam of Testament figures as examples of virtue is Cursed Him historical personality, revered by some the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, and the visit of His Highness to Portugal at the invitation The Court of King Solomon common in Islamic literature due to the high In an act of mercy and benevolence, and hated by others. Nevertheless, respect and status they enjoyed in Islamic Folio from the manuscript of Kulliyat a king on his grey steed approaches a Man Converses with Abu Muslim of His Excellency the President of the Republic. It is at the invitation of His Excellency many remembered him as a ruler of Folio from an unidentified manuscript culture at large. To Muslims, as indeed to (A Complete Collection of Poetry) man who had cursed him in anger when honour. In this scene, a man is talking the President of the Assembly of the Republic that His Highness the Aga Khan will, Painting attributed to Madhu Khanazad Jews and Christians, Solomon signifies the of Sa`di (d. 1292) his own mount became stuck in a mire. Folio from the manuscript of Akhlaq-i ill and disrespectfully about an enemy in perfect image of the ideal king, invested Initially encouraged by his entourage on that occasion, address the high dignitaries of Portugal in the Senate Chamber. Nasiri (Ethics of Nasir) front of Abu Muslim, assuming that this India, ca. 1600 with divine support and - according to some Agra, India, ca. 1604 to kill the insolent man, the ruler does by Nasir al-Din Tusi (d. 1274) would please him. Abu Muslim’s reaction Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper unorthodox, popular traditions - endowed Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper nothing of the sort, but – on the contrary is unexpected: ‘It is one thing for me to It is fitting, on the occasion of these two events, to present an exhibition of a with supernatural gifts and authority over – honours him with gold, a horse and Lahore, Pakistan, 1590–95 stain my hands with their blood…, but The Aga Khan Museum, AKM128 living beings and natural forces. The Aga Khan Museum, AKM284.6 a fur coat. Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper what purpose or advantage will there selection of miniature paintings and artefacts on loan from the Aga Khan Museum. be in polluting one’s tongue with their The Aga Khan Museum, AKM288.16 honour?’ Humility In this scene, a prince – possibly the Approachability This lusterware dish depicts a princely Mughal emperor Akbar himself – is enthronement scene, inspired by similar A Prince Visits a Hermit seated submissively before a solitary compositions in Islamic miniature “Trust, equity and accountability are key aspects recluse, who lives withdrawn in a cave painting. A centrally seated ruler at ease of good governance and leadership, which are Folio from an album for a life of religious seclusion and Dish with Seated Ruler is flanked by courtiers, notably smaller in Painting attributed to ‘Abd al-Samad contemplation. According to the and Courtiers size to denote their lower status. Scenes underpinned by the concepts of transparency, Shirin Qalam emperor’s historian Abu’l-Fazl, it was like this one have a long history in Iran Erudition and meritocracy and competence, and motivated rumoured in court circles that just such Kashan, Iran, early 13th century and can be traced back to earlier Good Manners India, ca. 1585-90 a visit had inspired Akbar to adopt a Fritware, lustre-painted compositions of the enthroned ruler and directed by demanding moral standards.” Opaque watercolour, ink, gold, and silver on paper more ascetic lifestyle, recognizing that surrounded by his officials, current in Learning the art of calligraphy formed earthly greatness is little compared to The Aga Khan Museum, AKM559 Iranian art since pre-Islamic times. an essential part of royal erudition and The Aga Khan Museum, AKM122 the spiritual rewards of existence. education. In Mughal India, princes were taught calligraphy and painting by the Courage and Chivalry Folio from a Muraqqa‘ (Album) masters of the court atelier. Once proficient, students would be called upon His Highness the Aga Khan Signed by Muhammad Dara Shikoh to write a number of showpiece specimens, During a hunt, the Mughal Emperor demonstrating the maturing of their Akbar and a Dervish Akbar visits a dervish, who has Among the three noble arts, Nasir al-Din India, ca. 1630 (border 18th century) skills. This example, written in Persian, withdrawn from the world to dedicate The Art of Chivalry Tusi mentions the art of chivalry, Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper comes from the hand of Muhammad Folio from an album himself exclusively to the pursuit of depicted here. According to him, its Dara Shikoh (1615-1659), the son of Painted by ‘Abd al-Samad Shirin Qalam spiritual truth and knowledge. Many Folio from the manuscript of Akhlaq-i attainment depends on strength and The Aga Khan Museum, AKM249 the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Mughal princes and emperors sought Nasiri (Ethics of Nasir) courage as well as the mastery of the advice of sages and mystics for by Nasir al-Din Tusi (d. 1274) horsemanship, military command skills India, ca. 1586 their otherworldly wisdom and detached, and the ability to protect the frontiers This miniature shows a young prince Opaque watercolour, ink, gold, and silver on paper impartial guidance. This image Lahore, Pakistan, 1590-95 of the realm. In this miniature, a young being instructed in the art of calligraphy, emphasises an ideal that prefers a Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper prince is obviously demonstrating his an essential royal skill. It comes from a The Aga Khan Museum, AKM141 humble spiritual life over worldly power. The stories depicted in the images and conveyed through the objects relate to some of the advanced skills in controlling a powerful philosophical treatise on ethics, social The Aga Khan Museum, AKM288.7 horse while trying to catch a lance. justice and politics by the 13th-century most important and timeless ideals of leadership that rulers aspired to through the ages. Persian philosopher and scientist Nasir Benevolence al-Din Tusi (1201-1274). Tusi’s text describes ideas about authority, the transmission of Teaching rulers about the virtues of exemplary leadership has formed an integral part of knowledge and attributes of the Virtuous political education in both the Islamic and Christian worlds across time and space. While King Dara and the Herdsman This beautiful bowl comes from A Court Workshop City. It builds on a concept first developed Nishapur, for centuries an important by Plato and the philosopher al-Farabi Christian authors tended to rely on crafting a concrete, literal picture of the “ideal” prince, Folio from the manuscript of Kulliyat Bowl with Horse Rider political and cultural center, a seat of Folio from the manuscript of Akhlaq-i (c. 872 - c. 950) – a fact exemplifying the Muslim writers used storytelling, fables and analogies to convey wisdom and experience (A Complete Collection of Poetry) In this scene, a benevolent king allows governmental power, home to a host of Nasiri (Ethics of Nasir) strong legacy of Greek and Hellenistic of Sa`di (d. 1292) himself to be approached and shamed and Bird by Nasir al-Din Tusi (d.1274) thought in Islamic intellectual thought. related to the art of governance. diverse ethnic and religious groups, and by one of his own entourage after failing a trading stop on commercial routes from According to Tusi, the proper functions of a city Agra, India, ca. 1604 to recognize him and preparing to attack Nishapur, Iran, 9th century Transoxiana and China, Iraq and Egypt. Lahore, Pakistan, 1590–95 are maintained by Holders of Traditions, Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper him in a moment of confusion, while lost Earthenware, underglaze-painted The image of the princely horse rider on Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper those masters who both practice and and separated from his hunting his elegantly adorned horse goes back transmit their art. They, in turn, are subject The Aga Khan Museum, AKM284.3 companions. The Aga Khan Museum, AKM753 to pre-Islamic times. The Aga Khan Museum, AKM288.12 to the Supreme Authority of a virtuous ruler.