Eulogy to a ruler

Eulogy to a ruler, in Persian, eulogy (na't) dedicated to a king, written by calligrapher Muhammad Husayn in black nasta'liq script in 20th century Iran or India. Dimensions of Written Surface: 12.5 (w) x 26.8 (h) cm In the lower left corner of the text panel, the calligrapher has signed his work with the expression: fidavi dargah Muhammad Husayn tab' namud ("the devoted slave at [your] presence [or court], Muhammad Husayn marked [made] it"). Although otherwise unrecorded, Muhammad Husayn may have been a calligrapher active in Iran or India at the turn of the 20th century. Khuda ya bi-rahmat nadar karda'i / Ka in sayah bar khalq gustarda'i / Talabkar-i khayr-i tu am banda var / Khuda ya tu in sayah payanda dar Oh God, You have looked (down) with mercy / Because You extended this shadow to the people / Like a slave, I seek your goodness / Oh God, You Everlasting Shadow The verses are written in black nasta'liq script framed by cloud bands on a beige sheet of paper whose background is painted in gold. In the upper right corner appears an invocation to God as the Guide (huwa al-hadi) written in a script known as khatt al-taj ("crown writing"), in which letters interlace to form decorative coronets. Khatt al-taj is a rather late calligraphic invention, appearing by far and large in specimens produced during the 19th and 20th centuries (al-Bahnasi 1995, 19). This calligraphic fragment includes a Persian eulogy (na't) to a king, describing him as the shadow (sayah) of God on earth. The verses read: Script: nasta'liq 1-85-154.100