VON HABSBURG, FRANCESCA et al. The St. Petersburg Muraqqa. Album of Indian and Persian Miniatures from the 16th through the 18th Century and Specimens of Persian Calligraphy by 'Imad Al-Hasani. Two volumes. Text volume: 154 pp., with 245 b&w illustrations; Plate volume: approximately 200 pp., illustrated in color. 4tos, 1 volume boards, 1 volume wraps in slipcase. Milan, Leonardo Arte, 1996.
The murakka of St. Petersburg is a unique collection of Indian (Mughal school) and Persian (Isfahan school) manuscript illuminations, represented here in a facsimile edition accompanied by a volume of essays, texts, and technical profiles. It was commissioned in 1738, and originally contained 120 leaves (109 leaves survive). In addition to the illuminated scripts are a collection of calligraphic works executed by a noted calligrapher of the Persian court, Mir Imad al-Hasani (1549-1615). The album was purchased in 1909 by Czar Nicholas II, and has remained in Russian hands ever since. This is the first complete facsimile reproduction to be published. The text of the second volume is in Italian.