Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi

Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi was a manuscript artist active during the mid-to-late 15th century, with his documented period of production spanning the years 1452 to 1475. His known artistic output focuses exclusively on illumination and calligraphy for literary texts and royal manuscripts.

Five specific compositions attributed to the artist are represented in museum collections, confirming his importance in the tradition of Persian book arts. These works are primarily held by institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

His notable contributions include several folios and an Illuminated Frontispiece for a manuscript of the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds). Specific folios held in collections include The Anecdote of the Man Who Fell into the Water (Folio 44r) and Funeral Procession (Folio 35r). Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi also produced highly significant manuscripts for major literary figures and rulers, including the Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i and the Divan of Sultan Husayn Baiqara.

The detailed quality of these historical manuscripts ensures that the imagery is utilized for museum-quality reproductions. Today, many of these iconic manuscript pages are in the public domain, allowing for their reproduction as high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for study and appreciation.