Calligraphic composition, North India, localized in Rampur, - Lot 205

Calligraphic composition, North India, localized in Rampur, signed Mohammad 'Alî Dolha Khosh and dated 1844 Quatrain by 'Attar calligraphed in black ink in Persian nasta'liq, the four lines arranged obliquely in reserves standing out against a background of plant foliage painted in gouache. Two additional lines arranged vertically and, in the lower left-hand corner, the signature of the calligrapher Mohammad 'Alî, known as Dolha Khosh, accompanied by the location in Rampur and the date 1261 H / 1844. Composition framed by two spandrels, a border and a margin illuminated in gold on a colored paper background. Framed. Dim. calligraphy: 20.5 x 12.4 cm; dim. total: 28.8 x 18.8 cm Very slight stains, small tears in the corners. Farid ud-Dîn Attar, born around 1146 in Nishapur in eastern Iran, was a great Persian mystic poet. The verses copied by Mohammad 'Alî in his composition are taken from the Asrâr Nâmeh (Book of Secrets), the great mystical mathnavî by the author of The Language of Birds. Calligrapher Mohammad 'Ali Dolha was employed at the court of the nawwabs of the princely state of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh.