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#EidMubarak 
to everyone celebrating! As our celebration, allow me to use a famous miniature to share some of the strengths of our Stuart Cary Welch Islamic & S Asian Photograph Collection: high-quality details and rare manuscripts!
to everyone celebrating! As our celebration, allow me to use a famous miniature to share some of the strengths of our Stuart Cary Welch Islamic & S Asian Photograph Collection: high-quality details and rare manuscripts!
This folio is from a 16th c. manuscript of the Diwan of Hafiz that has been dispersed: some folios are @metmuseum, some are @harvartmuseums, and some are in private collections. This one, entitled the Celebration of #Eid , is in a private collection. http://id.lib.harvard.edu/images/8001001726/urn-3:FHCL:29633815/catalog
, is in a private collection. http://id.lib.harvard.edu/images/8001001726/urn-3:FHCL:29633815/catalog
It could be difficult for researchers to find this particular folio because it's held privately, & it hasn't been previously digitized. Welch as a researcher was very interested in details, and so high-quality photographs of small moments are a key part of his collection
Take, for example, this lovely detail of men reciting prayers for the end of Ramadan. We can see their rings (a fashionable archer's ring as well as a more bejeweled one), the patterns on their garments, and the plumes on their hats with great clarity, and even the gold border
This closeup of the band shows all the details of the instruments, even the pick used on the 'oud and the elaborate calligraphed robes on the 'oud player
This woman peeking out through her window at the celebrations below is a tiny detail in the corner, but Welch's photograph even allows us to see the henna on her hands
This man pointing out the moon to his friend is obviously of some importance, as shown by the handkerchief in his hand and his position on the roof of the building. Notice that these partiers are all wearing the fashionable archer's rings as well!
This detail of men picking roses (?) in the background is one that we can't figure out the reason for-- but you can see what they're doing in great detail, which should help us or other researchers decode the imagery!
You can find these & more here: http://id.lib.harvard.edu/images/8001001726/catalog, high-quality downloads for anyone! They'll also be featured on @HarvardLibrary's new digital collections platform. Thanks to catalogers @iconographile, @NicInTheGarden, @LoganHeiman_, & Bronwen Gulkis for their hard work!
Oh, and finally, to learn more about the Stuart Cary Welch Collection, visit here! https://library.harvard.edu/collections/stuart-cary-welch-islamic-and-south-asian-photograph-collection
