Yaqut al-Musta‘simi
(early 13th century-1298 A.D.)
Full name:
Abu’l-Majd Jamal al-Din Yaqut, known as Yaqut al-Musta‘simi because he served Caliph al-Musta‘sim
What he did:
- Refined the six scripts set down by Ibn al-Bawwab
- Gave the letter shapes new dimension by emphasizing the slanted cut of the pen
- Further systematized the method of proportional measurement with dots
- Developed the school of calligraphy that Turkish and Persian calligraphers followed for years to come
Biography:
- Born in the region of Anatolia
- Was a slave of the last caliph of the 'Abassid dynasty in Baghdad, al-Musta‘sim Billah (reigned 1242-1258)
- Spent nearly his whole life in Baghdad
- Became a scribe in the royal court
- Studied calligraphy with an excellent woman calligrapher named Shuhda Bint Al-‘Ibari, a student in the direct line of Ibn al-Bawwab
- Committed to his work. During the Mongol sack of Baghdad in 1258, he took refuge in the minaret of a mosque so he could finish his calligraphy practice, while the city was being ravaged below
- His career flourished under Mongol patronage
- Wrote prolifically. Made 364 copies of the Koran, several copies of which still exist and are highly prized by collectors
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Slanted cut of the pen
Proportional measurement system
Calligraphy attributed to Yaqut al-Musta'simi
