MAGICAL LETTERS CALLIGRAPHIES FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD

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1 MAGICAL LETTERS CALLIGRAPHIES FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD Alexis Renard has the pleasure to announce you his new exhibition Magical Letters Calligraphies from the Islamic world At 5 rue des deux ponts Paris From the 9th to the 30th of September 2014 During the 7th Circuit of Ceramics and Arts du Feu Alexis Renard is participating again this year in the Circuit of Ceramics and Arts du Feu in Paris and will offer a selection of fine pieces on the theme of calligraphy. This exhibition is showing the diversity of the styles of calligraphy as well as the variety of materials used by the artists with for example an important ceramic panel of calligraphy from the Qajar period in Persia attributed to Hajji Baqir Jahanmiri workshop, a monumental mamluk candlestick with strong thuluth calligraphy, a pair of Ottoman tondi bearing the names of the caliphs Uthman and Ali, a Qur an bifolium from the 14th century, as well as a fine selection of works on paper. This exhibition on a rarely treated subject is gathering works of art that are giving a broad vision of calligraphy in the Islamic lands with examples dating from the 9th to the 19th century. Another part of this exhibition will show the calligrapher in context with a selection of precious tools used by the calligrapher such as an important ottoman writing desk from the 16th century. Calligraphy is one of the major form of artistic expression in Islamic cultures. This art form is based on Arabic language intrinsically linked to the revelation of Prophet Muhammad and writing and preserving the Qur an. It is highly esteemed in Islamic culture.

2 The development of calligraphy has also led to the production of poetical, legal and scientific works. There are numerous types of Islamic scripts: parallel to the development of kufic, an angular script in bold line, other more cursive and supple styles of calligraphy have been developed, for example naskh, mohaqqaq, thuluth or nasta liq. The use of those scripts is defined by the type of work as well as by the media: on paper as well as ceramic, wood, glass, stone or metalwork. Calligraphy is used to some extent by all Muslims and is a unifying factor in almost all the artistic expressions of the Islamic lands, manuscripts being the major example, but also in architecture mainly in religious contexts with monumental inscriptions and also in decorative arts in general through religious or poetical texts as well as proverbs, magical inscriptions or blessings. Alexis Renard is a specialized dealer and expert in the field of Islamic and Indian art and is also promoting a small group of Pakistani contemporary artists. Works of art from the gallery are now housed in major museums and institutions worldwide : the Louvre Museum, Musee du Quai Branly, Musee des Beaux- Arts of Lyon, Musee Ariana in Geneva, the David Collection, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Institut du Monde Arabe, Sadberk Hanim Müzesi Alexis Renard is an Expert Member of the C.N.E.S. (Chambre Nationale des Experts Spécialisés) and also Member of the S.N.A. (Syndicat National des Antiquaires).

3 Important calligraphic panel in thuluth script Hajji Baqir Jahanmiri's workshop Ceramic decorated in cuerda seca or black line technique Iran, Shiraz, 19th century, Qajar period 52,5 x 110 cm

4 Mameluk candlestick base in thuluth script Silver inlaid copper Egypt or Syria, circa x 31 cm

5 A pair of calligraphic roundels bearing the names of the caliphs 'Uthman and 'Ali in thuluth script Painted and gilded wood Turkey, First Half of the 19th century, Ottoman Empire 65 cm

6 Bifolium from a Qur an in mohaqqaq script Ink and gold on paper Anatolia or Central Asia, 14th century Bifolium : 28,7 x 38 cm

7 An epigraphic tile in naskh script Moulded ceramic with underglaze painted decoration Iran, 19th century, Qajar period 24 x 34,8 cm

8 Album page with Qur anic verses in naskh script Ink and gold on paper, mounted on album page Iran, Signed by Abd al- Ali, Rabi al- Awwal 1238 / November- December x 19 cm

9 CONTACT Galerie Alexis Renard Alexis Renard Assistant: Gabrielle Lesage rue des deux ponts PARIS alexis@alexisrenard.com