Gazing Upon The Stars

Collaborating institutions
Vatican Apostolic Library
Museum of Islamic Art (MIA)
Victoria and Albert Museum
History of Science Museum, University of Oxford

Andromeda with two Arab fish asterisms,
folios from Kitab al-Jami‘ li-Ma‘rifat Suwar al-Kawakib al-Mushtamil ‘ala Wasf al-Suwar al-Thamani wa-al-Arba‘
(The Comprehensive Book for Knowing the Star Constellations, Including a Description of the Forty-Eight Constellations) of Abdulrahman al-Sufi (AH 291–376/903–86 CE)
Ceuta, Morocco, AH 621/1224 CE
Copied by Al-Hasan ‘Ali bin Muhammad bin ‘Ali
Brown and red ink on paper with modern leather binding, h. 26.5 × w. 20 cm
Vatican City, Vatican Apostolic Library, Ross. 1033.

Andromeda with the Arab Horse, Camel, and Fish asterisms,
folios from Kitab Suwar al-Kawakib al-Thabitah (Book of the Images of the Fixed Star Constellations) of Abulrahman al-Sufi (AH 291–376/903–86 CE)
Baghdad, Iraq, AH 519/1125 CE
Copied by ‘Ali bin ‘Abd al-Jalil ibn ‘Ali bin Muhammad
Brown, black, and red ink on paper with leather binding, h. 24.5 × w. 18.5 cm
Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar Museums, Doha, MS.2.1998

The Arab Horse Asterism, folios from Kitab Suwar al-Kawakib al-Thabitah (Book of the Images of the Fixed Star Constellations)
in Persian translation of Abdulrahman al-Sufi (AH 291–376/903–86 CE)
Perhaps Isfahan, Iran, 1040s AH/1630s CE
Ink, colors, and gold on paper with leather binding, h. 27.1 × w. 16.9 cm
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, IS.2325-1883

Horoscopion Apiani Generale of Peter Apian (AH 900–59/1495–1552 CE)
Ingolstadt, Germany, AH 939/1533 CE
Ink on paper with leather binding, h. 31 × w. 21 cm
History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, LE/API os

Celestial Globe
Made by Muhammad Muqim bin ‘Isa bin Allahdad Asturlabi Humayuni Lahuri
Lahore, Mughal India, AH 1049/1639–40 CE
Brass, silver, h. 16.5 × diam. 17 cm
Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar Museums, Doha, MW.146.1999