Unknown Maker, Persian

This painting’s gilded margins appear off-center, seemingly favoring the right side of the page. This is because early American and European art dealers tore single pages out of muraqqa (bound albums) for sale to collectors. As a result, specific information about manuscript artists and subject matter has often been lost.

We do know that Joseph (AS) is presented here, a fiery halo marking his prophethood and significance. The Qur’an details his narrative from his abandonment, enslavement, and imprisonment to his ascension as a high-ranking administrator for the malik (king) of Egypt. Islam was founded last of the major Abrahamic religions, after Judaism and Christianity, and Joseph is an important figure in all three.