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Unidentified, probably American and Mir Ghulam Hasan Dehlavi

Sihr al Bayan

originally published 1805, this copy later 19th century

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Sihr al Bayan

originally published 1805, this copy later 19th century

Physical Qualities Ink and color on paper with cotton string binding, 9 1/4 × 5 7/8 × 9/16 in. (23.5 × 15 × 1.5 cm.)
Credit Line The Baltimore Museum of Art
Object Number 2016.251
This fragmentary book is a later copy of a popular romance finished in 1785 and originally published in 1805 in Calcutta, India. Told in more than 2,000 couplets written in Urdu’s nastaʿlīq script, the poetic love story contains standard elements of dramatic adversity, fairies and other supernatural beings, capture, rescue, and reunion. Prince Benazir is stolen away on his 12th birthday by a fairy queen who falls in love with the beautiful youth. She presents Benazir with a winged horse she allows him to ride at night. One night he sees Princess Badr-i-Munīr and flies down to meet her. They fall instantly in love. The fairy, enraged by this development, banishes the prince to the bottom of a well where he remains for several years. He is rescued by the Princess’s brilliant friend who searches for him disguised as a wandering musician. She is aided in her quest by the supernatural spirit who loses his heart to her. Ultimately, both couples are united in marriage. The book is opened either to the scene of Prince Benazir and Princess Badr-i-Munīr enjoying a cup of wine which occurs soon after their meeting; or to the moment Najim un Nisa in disguise and Firoz Shah, Prince of the Jinns, meet in the wilderness. Concern over the damaging effects of over-exposure to light requires changing the pages on view.
Frances Klapthor, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Art Across Asia: West Asian Connections," November 12, 2018-October 19, 2019 (2nd and 9th illustrations)

Collection installation, "Asia. The Art & Business of Writing", Levy Gallery, Baltimore Museum of Art, October 5, 2023-

Artist Indian Artists

Unidentified, probably American

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