Yahya ibn Mahmud al-Wasiti

Yahya ibn Mahmud al-Wasiti ( ar, يحيى بن محمود الواسطي) was a 13th-century Iraqi-Arab painter and calligrapher, noted for his illustrations of al-Hariri's '' Maqamat''.

Biography

Al-Wasiti was probably born in Wasit واسط south of Baghdad. In 1237 he transcribed and illustrated a copy of al-Hariri's '' Maqamat'' typically shortened to ''Maqamat,'' and also known as the ''Assemblies,'' a series of anecdotes of social satire written by Al-Hariri of Basra. Al-Wasiti's illustrations, which are among the finest examples of a style used in the 13th-century, served as an inspiration for the modern Baghdad art movement in the 20th-century.

Very little is known about his life. He was from the 13th century school of painting. He was known for his articulate painting style.

Illustrations from ''Maqamat''

In total, ''Maqmat'' has 96 illustrations, all by al-Wasiti. They are of "outstanding quality with fine composition, expressive figures, and vivid but controlled colours" and provide readers with "fascinating series of glimpses into and commentaries on 13th-century Islāmic life.""Yaḥyā ibn Maḥmūd al-Wāsiṭī," in: ''Encyclopædia Britannica,'
Online:
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File:Yahyâ ibn Mahmûd al-Wâsitî 001.jpg
File:Yahyâ ibn Mahmûd al-Wâsitî 003.jpg
File:Yahyâ ibn Mahmûd al-Wâsitî 002.jpg
File:Yahyâ ibn Mahmûd al-Wâsitî 006.jpg
File:Yahyâ ibn Mahmûd al-Wâsitî 007.jpg
File:Yahyâ ibn Mahmûd al-Wâsitî 004.jpg
File:Yahyâ ibn Mahmûd al-Wâsitî 005.jpg
File:Harîrî Schefer - BNF Ar5847 f.51.jpg,
File:Al-Wasiti-Discussion near a village.jpg,
File:Qadi Abbasid - Maqamat Harir 1237.jpg,

See also

*Arabic literature
*Culture of Iraq
*Islamic art
*List of Iraqi artists

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wasiti, Yahya Ibn Mahmud Al
13th-century Arabs
13th-century people from the Abbasid Caliphate
Arab artists
Muslim artists
Manuscript illuminators
Iraqi calligraphers
Iraqi painters
Painters of the medieval Islamic world
13th-century painters