Calligraphic composition, Herat or Bukhara, early 16th century, signed Sultan 'Alî Al-Mashhadî Persian quatrain calligraphy in nasta'liq with black oblique ink and surrounded by gold and polychrome illuminated lambrequins and spandrels, one of which bears the signature of calligrapher Sultan 'Alî Al-Mashhadî. Mounted as an album page on gold-powdered card, with epigraphic or illuminated cartouches creating a border. Illuminated panel size: 19.5 x 12.6 cm; page size: 32 x 21.5 cm Significant wetness, very faded polychromy, minor repairs. Sultan 'Alî al-Mashhadî (1453-1520) was a calligrapher from Mashhad in Iran, active at the Timurid court of Hossein Mirza Bayqara in Herat. Renowned for his mastery of nasta'liq script, he was responsible for numerous written works, such as the Diwân of the Timurid Sultan in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, copied in 1500 (1982.120.1).