Persian albums contain specimens of calligraphy in various scripts, normally compiled from different sources and several artists, and mounted on decorated margins. In this talk, Shiva Mihan explores the artistic and aesthetic features of an exquisite Persian album from our Islamic art collection that contains decorated folios of calligraphy, penned by the most skilled hands. TAKE A CLOSER LOOK: + “An illuminated folio with calligraphy, from an album of calligraphy specimens,” Persian, Qajar period, 1854. Ink, colors, and gold on paper. Harvard Art Museums/ Loan from A. Soudavar in memory of his mother Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, 18.2015. https://hvrd.art/o/352093. + Video—Artist Demonstration: Persian Miniature Painting: https://vimeo.com/35276945 + Exhibition— “Technologies of the Image: Art in 19th-Century Iran:” Further explore Qajar Art in the Harvard Art Museums’ collections. https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/exhibitions/5117/technologies-of-the-image-art-in-19th-century-iran. + Publication—"An Album of Artists’ Drawings from Qajar Iran:” Explore another Persian album in our collection. https://shop.harvardartmuseums.org/products/an-album-of-artists-drawings-from-qajar-iran. -- Speaker: Shiva Mihan, Schroeder Curatorial Fellow of Islamic Art, Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art. This video is part of our Harvard Art Museums at Home: Art Talks series in which curators, conservators, fellows, and graduate students share short, informal videos that offer an up-close look at works from our collections. Recorded Thursday, September 10, 2020. © President and Fellows of Harvard College. Video: Shiva Mihan. For questions related to permission for commercial use of this video, please contact the Department of Digital Imaging and Visual Resources at am_divr@harvard.edu.