Introducing the art of Arabic, Ottoman, & Persian calligraphy

Images by Time

Search for image by time period in each of the image galleries below.

600 to 1250 A.D.

Single folio from a Qur’an

Calligraphy from the early days of Islam through the end of the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad

1250 to 1450 A.D.

Folio from a Qur‘an Manuscript

Calligraphy from the Ilkhanid, Mamluk and Timurid caliphates

1450-1925 A.D. | West

Album of Calligraphies Including Poetry and Prophetic Traditions (Hadith)

Calligraphy from the Ottoman empire and other places in the western Muslim world

1450-1925 A.D. | East

Page from the St. Petersburg album

Calligraphy from the Safavid, Mughal and Qajar caliphates, and other locations in the eastern Muslim world

1925 A.D. to today

Calligraphic painting

Calligraphy from modern artists, including painting, graphic design, digital and traditional art

Images by Style

Search for image by script style in each of the image galleries below.

Divani

Divani Bismillah

Calligraphy in the divani script

Kufic

Folio from a Qur’an, Sura 48:5-6

Calligraphy in the kufic script

Maghribi

Page from a Qur’an, sura 5:13-15

Calligraphy in the maghribi script

Muhaqqaq

Fragment of a Qur’an folio, Sura 3:85-86

Calligraphy in the muhaqqaq script

Naskh

Book of Prayers

Calligraphy in the naskh script

Nasta‘liq

Calligraphy from the St. Petersburg album

Calligraphy in the nasta‘liq script

Rayhani

Qur’anic verses

Calligraphy in the rayhani script

Riqa‘

Hilye

Calligraphy in the riqa‘ script

Ruq‘ah

Ruq‘ah script

Calligraphy in the ruq‘ah script

Shikaste

Ghazals by Sa'di

Calligraphy in the shikaste script

Ta‘liq

Folio of calligraphy

Calligraphy in the ta‘liq script

Tawqi‘

Book of Prayers

Calligraphy in the tawqi‘ script

Thuluth

Album of calligraphy

Calligraphy in the thuluth script

Other images

Search for other calligraphy images in each of the image galleries below.

Calligraphy Tools

Inkwell

Images of the tools used for writing calligraphy

Illumination

Qur’anic verses

A selection of illuminated manuscripts

Other scripts

Gulzar panel

Calligraphy in other or unnamed scripts