May 24, 2016
May 24, 2016

Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham of Balkh Visited by Angels

Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham of Balkh Visited by Angels

c. 1740

Gum tempera and gold on paper

Page: 24.2 x 32.8 cm (9 1/2 x 12 15/16 in.); Miniature: 17.2 x 25.7 cm (6 3/4 x 10 1/8 in.)

Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2018.160

Location

Did you know?

Two of the angels bring bottles of wine.

Description

Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham was the King of Balkh in present-day Afghanistan, born around 730, but later abdicated his throne to take up ascetic life in Syria. Sufi legends claim that Ibrahim in the wilderness was fed by angels. In the painting, Ibrahim can be seen in a cave and meditating under a tree, while five angles appear in front of him.

See also

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email [email protected].

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.