Name Ibn al-Bawwab | ||
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Ibn al-Bawwab was a Persian calligrapher and illuminator who lived during the time of the Buyid dynasty. He most likely died around 1022 AD in Baghdad.
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Life
Ibn al-Bawwab was from a poor family. The name he is known by means literally “son of the doorkeeper.” Nevertheless, he received a thorough education in law and is said to have known the Qurʾan by heart. Ibn al-Bawwab’s interest in calligraphy was inspired by students of Ibn Muqlah. Altogether, Ibn al-Bawwab reputedly produced 64 copies of the Qurʾan by hand. One of the most beautiful in the rayhani script is in the Laleli Mosque in Istanbul, and another is in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, Ireland. a gift of the Ottoman Sultan Selim I (1470–1512). Ibn al-Bawwab was recognized as a master in his own time; his school of calligraphy lasted until Baghdad fell to the Mongols more than two centuries after his death.
Works
One of his largest achievements was the perfection of the al-Khatt al-Mansub (literally, the well-proportioned script) style of Islamic calligraphy. He also contributed to the development of many of the early cursive scripts including rayhani, naskh, tawqiʿ and muhaqqaq.