Sultan Ali Mashhadi

He designed architectural inscriptions, such as the one (1477–8) on the marble platform for the tombstones of Sultan Husayn’s ancestors erected in the Shrine of Khwaja Abd Allah.

He shows a mastery of control and modulation, introducing visual rhythms by elongating and emphasizing certain forms, like the stroke on letter kaph.

Nastaliq of Sultan ‛Ali "demonstrates a fine balance between fluidity and discipline, the same characteristics that he mentioned in his treatise on calligraphy".

[5] In his writings the eastern, or Khurasani, style of nastaliq, associated with Jafar and Azhar, reached its classic form, and in Safavid period also became the predominant in western Iran.

[7] Because of this nastaliq of Sultan ‛Ali "remained the epitome of the style, assidously collected and treasured by later connoiseurs and emulated by his successors for centuries to come".

Colophon from the manuscript of Sa‛di's Gulistan , copied by Sultan ‛Ali in 1486. The calligrapher’s signature appears in the triangular colophon. Later owners and librarians added their names and comments in various styles of nastaliq . One somewhat clumsy example is located to the right of the triangle. Written by the Jahangir (1605–27), the inscription maintains: “This is one of my earliest books. I read it constantly. Written by Nur al-Din Jahangir, son of King Akbar .” [ 1 ] Art and History Collection