The Arts of Persia Part 1

The Arts of Persia.

by H. Kevorkian.

FROM THURSDAY, APRIL TWENTY-SECOND TO SAt.u.r.dAY, MAY FIFTEENTH, INCLUSIVE ON THE ENTIRE THIRD FLOOR

THE ANDERSON GALLERIES 489 PARK AVENUE AT FIFTY-NINTH STREET, NEW YORK 1926

THE ENTIRE THIRD FLOOR GALLERIES FROM THURSDAY, APRIL TWENTY-SECOND TO SAt.u.r.dAY, MAY FIFTEENTH, INCLUSIVE [OPEN WEEK-DAYS, 9-6; SUNDAYS, 2-5 P.M.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: STUCCO BAS-RELIEF, PAINTED IN POLYCHROME. EXCAVATED AT RAY (RHAGES) ANTERIOR TO THE XIITH CENTURY]

This exhibition has been arranged with a desire to meet the convenience of those who are interested in manifestations of the arts of different countries over which ISLAM held sway at one time or other in the past. An effort has been made to show under one roof representative examples of works produced at different epochs and stages of the civilizations referred to, so that they may be seen, and perhaps studied, with the minimum expenditure of time.

Fine examples of many branches of the arts of these peoples are in permanent exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum, New York, and the museums of great cities throughout the country. It is difficult to find adequate words to describe the enchanting atmosphere of the halls at the Metropolitan Museum where Near Eastern art is installed; and the same can truly be said of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia. These exhibitions must inevitably contribute to the enjoyment and education of countless visitors to these inst.i.tutions, and will continue to do so in increasing degree to the enjoyment of generations to come.

The present exhibition does not comprise a vast number of objects. Its claim to attention lies in the fact that it includes an important series of really first cla.s.s works which are also of great historical importance. There will be on view as well some comparatively new types of objects of aesthetic and archaeological interest, obtained as the result of recent excavations.

The briefness of time available precluded the possibility of compiling a catalogue, as was at first intended. The present booklet is issued to explain the scope of the exhibition, and extend a cordial invitation to visit it.

H.K.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MUHAMMAD (THE PROPHET) WITNESSES ALI (HIS SON-IN-LAW AND SUCCESSOR) DEFEAT AMR BEN ABDWAD]

One of the eight ill.u.s.trations for a XIIIth Century Persian Ma.n.u.script ent.i.tled, "HISTORY OF TABARI", compiled A.H. 310 (A.D. 922). The present copy is a subsequent one of the Persian version, translated by AL B'ALA'MI, A.H. 352.

It is interesting to note that TABARI records in the book here referred to, that three messages were sent by MUHAMMAD to KHUSRAW PARNIZ, imparting the divine warnings. One of the messages, as recorded in an old Ma.n.u.script ent.i.tled NIHAYAT UL-IRAB, reads:

"In the name of G.o.d, the merciful, the compa.s.sionate. From MUHAMMAD the Apostle of G.o.d to KHUSRAW son of HURMAZD. But to proceed. Verily I extol unto thee G.o.d, beside whom there is no other G.o.d. He it is who guarded me when I was an orphan, and made me rich when I was dest.i.tute, and guided me when I was straying in error. Only he who is bereft of understanding, and over whom calamity triumphs, rejects the message which I am sent to announce. O KHUSRAW, submit and thou shalt be safe, or else prepare to wage with G.o.d and with his Apostle a war which shall not find them helpless. Farewell."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The rise of ISLAM and its rapid advent to power, is perhaps the most surprising chapter of the history of mankind. The great empires, Persian and Byzantine, which were subjected to the urgent onslaught of this rising power may have been in an enfeebled condition as a result of excess of despotism and internal dissensions, as historians affirm; but that the element of the power must have been in the rationality of the principles contained in the teaching, there can be no doubt.

"It was undoubtedly to ISLAM, that simple yet majestic creed of which no unprejudiced student can ignore the grandeur, that Arabs owed the splendid part which they were destined to play in the history of civilization. In judging of the Arabian Prophet, western critics are too often inclined to ignore the condition from which he raised his country, and to forget that many inst.i.tutions which they condemn were not introduced but only tolerated by ISLAM. The early Muslims were very sensible of the immense amelioration in their life effected by MUHAMMAD'S teachings. What this same amelioration was is well shown in the following pa.s.sage from the oldest extant biography of the Prophet," says Professor G. Browne in his memorable work on Persia,[1]

and quotes IBN HISHAM (A.H. 213: A.D. 828) in support.

[Footnote 1: "Literary History of Persia," by Edward G. Browne, M.A., M.B., Vol. I, page 186.]

"During the first half of the seventh century," says DOZY in

[CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE]

[Ill.u.s.tration: ACCESSION AT KUFA, A.D. 749, OF ABU'L-ABBAS ABDULLAH AS-SAFFAH FIRST CALIPH OF THE HOUSE OF ABBAS]

One of eight ill.u.s.trations for a XIIIth Century Ma.n.u.script ent.i.tled, "HISTORY OF TABARI", compiled A.H. 310 (A.D. 922). The present copy is a subsequent one of the Persian version, translated by AL B'ALA'MI, A.H. 352.

"It was a dynasty abounding in good qualities, richly endowed with generous attributes, wherein the wares of science found a ready sale, the merchandise of culture was in great demand, the observances of religion were respected, charitable bequests flowed freely ... and the frontiers were bravely kept."--AL-FAKHRI (historian of fame of the XIIIth Century) on the ABBASID Dynasty.

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his excellent work on ISLAM,[2] "everything followed its accustomed course in the Byzantine as in the Persian Empire. These two states continued always to dispute the possession of western Asia; they were, to all outward appearance, flouris.h.i.+ng; the taxes which poured into the treasuries of their Kings reached considerable sums, and the magnificence, as well as the luxury of their capitals had become proverbial. But all this was but in appearance, for secret disease consumed both empires; they were burdened by a crus.h.i.+ng despotism; on either hand the history of the dynasties formed a concatenation of horrors, that of the state a series of persecutions born of dissensions in religious matters. At this juncture it was that, all of a sudden, there emerged from deserts hardly known and appeared on the scene of the world a new people, hitherto divided into innumerable nomad tribes, who, for the most part, had been at war with one another, now for the first time united. It was this people, pa.s.sionately attached to liberty, simple in their food and dress, n.o.ble and hospitable, gay and witty, but at the same time proud, irascible, and, once their pa.s.sions were aroused, vindictive, irreconcilable and cruel, who overthrew in an instant the venerable but rotten empire of the Persians, s.n.a.t.c.hed from the successors of Constantine their fairest provinces, trampled under their feet a Germanic kingdom but lately founded, and menaced the rest of Europe, while at the same time, at the other end of the world, its victorious armies penetrated to the Himalayas. Yet it was not like so many other conquering peoples, for it preached at the same time a new religion.

In opposition to the dualism of the Persians and a degenerate Christianity, it announced a pure monotheism which was accepted by millions of men, and which, even in our own time, const.i.tutes the religion of a tenth part of the human race."

[Footnote 2: Translated into French by Victor Chauvin under the t.i.tle of "Essai sur l'Histoire de l'Islamisme" (Leyden and Paris, 1879).]

The teachings of MUHAMMAD were not of a nature to arouse

[CONTINUED ON PAGE FIVE]

[Ill.u.s.tration: POLYCHROME ENAMELLED GLa.s.s MOSQUE LAMP OF THE XIIITH CENTURY]

Very few examples of this highly advanced art survive. They represent an extremely aristocratic manifestation of art and were executed by order of MAMELUKE CALIPHS of Egypt, and dedicated by them to their great Mosques, individually inscribed in magnificent calligraphy.

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intolerance.[3] History does not record the practice of compulsory conversion in the scheme of conquest of early converts. "It is often supposed," says Professor BROWNE, "that the choice offered by the warriors of ISLAM was between the QUR'AN and the SWORD; this, however, is not the fact." There are innumerable evidences to the contrary which history records.[4] It appears that the exemplary behavior of the Arabs, under their newly acquired faith, was the main factor not only in the success of their scheme of conquest, but also in the impression which it made on the defeated in determining them to adopt the faith which produced such upright warriors.

[Footnote 3: "Righteousness is not that ye turn your faces to the East and to the West, but righteousness is this: Whosoever believeth in G.o.d, and the last day, and the angels, and the book, and the prophets; and whoso, for the love of G.o.d, giveth of his wealth unto his kindred, and unto orphans, and the poor, and the traveller, and to those who crave alms, and for the release of the captives; and whoso observeth prayer and giveth in charity; and those who, when they have covenanted, fulfil their covenant; and who are patient in adversity and hards.h.i.+p, and in times of violence: these are the righteous and they that fear the Lord."--QUR'AN, SURA II.]

[Footnote 4: The treaty concluded by HABIB B. MASLAMA with the people of DABIL in Armenia ran as follows: "In the name of G.o.d the merciful, the clement. This is a letter from HABIB B. MASLAMA to the people of DABIL, Christians, Magians, and Jews, such of them as are present and such of them as are absent. Verily I guarantee the safety of your lives, properties, churches, temples and city walls; ye are secure, and it is inc.u.mbent upon us faithfully to observe this treaty so long as you observe it and pay the poll-tax and the land-tax. G.o.d is witness, and he sufficeth as a witness."--QUR'AN, V. 104. Concerning the acceptance of the Poll-Tax from ZOROASTRIANS, as well as from Jews and Christians. A. VON KREMER'S "Kulturgeschichte d. Orients," Vol. I, page 59.]

The tremendous political upheaval that the evolution of ISLAM brought in its train to the affairs of the world does not fall within the scope of this paper. A highly important fact, however, must not be lost sight of, that by consolidating and unifying the tottering states a new civilization was founded which knew how to turn to account the culture of the ancient states conquered. In this overwhelming transformation Persia came in, from the outset, to play the most conspicuous and important part. The

[CONTINUED ON PAGE NINE]

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROYAL IVORY BOX, WITH METAL MOUNTING. HISPANO-ARABIAN ART, XIITH-XIIITH CENTURY DECORATED IN ENAMEL AND GOLD, DEPICTING INSIGNIA OF SUCCESSORS OF UMAYYAD CALIPHS OF SPAIN, AND QUR'ANIC ROSETTES AND KUFIC CALLIGRAPHY OF THE HIGHEST DISTINCTION]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FAIENCE CYLINDRICAL VASE, WITH RELIEF AND l.u.s.tRE DECORATION. FROM FOSTAT (ANCIENT CAIRO), DYNASTY OF FATIMID ANTI-CALIPHS (A.D. 974-1171)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: AN EARLY SAFAWID PAINTING (CIRCA A.D. 1525) OF EXQUISITE RHYTHM, DEPTH AND DIGNITY]