Writing the Word of God: Calligraphy and the Qur’an

Celebrating the rich religious and artistic tradition of calligraphy, or “beautiful writing,” these exhibitions highlight examples of the most esteemed of the Islamic visual arts. The works on view in these exhibitions—from practice alphabets to elaborately finished manuscripts—serve as traces of individuals, belief systems, and cultures. Traces of the Calligrapher is curated by Mary McWilliams, Norma Jean Calderwood Curator of Islamic and Later Indian Art, Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art, Harvard Art Museums; and David Roxburgh, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Professor of Islamic Art History, Harvard University. Writing the Word of God is curated by Roxburgh. Both exhibitions are a collaboration of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Harvard Art Museums. The accompanying catalogues are published by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.