Ibrahim Mirzo was the son of Shahruh and the grandson of Amir Timur, a follower of Sharafiddin ’Ali Yazdi, who wrote “Zafar-nama” (The Book of Timur’s Victories). Ibrahim Mirzo was a unmatched calligrapher and master of six scripts. Imitating the style of the famous calligrapher Yakut al-Musta’simi (1221 – 1298), Ibrahim Mirzo surpassed him. Some samples of his letters are still kept in collection of Shiraz. The calligrapher died in 1431.
Khwaja Mir’Ali Tabrizi (14th – 15th centuries) was known as the founder of a special style combining six types of Nasta’liq script (1673).
Sultana Ali Mashhadi (15th century) achieved perfection in the art of Nasta’liq script and received the honorary title of “The Leader of Calligraphers.” Sultan ’Ali Mashhadi transcribed many works by Nawai during the poet’s lifetime. For example, the manuscript “Nawadir al-shabab” (Diwan of Youth) (Inventory No. 1995) by ’Alishir Nawa’i, transcribed by Sultan ’Ali Mashhadi in excellent Nasta’liq script is housed in the collection of the al-Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan At the end of the manuscript Mashhadi wrote, “I, Sultan ’Ali Mashhadi, have transcribed this copy for the treasury of Mirza Sultan Husayn in Herat.”
’Abd al-Jamil (d. 1506) was a special scribe of ’Alishir Navo’i’s works. He transcribed “Khamsa” (Quintet) during the author’s lifetime. The poet highly appreciated the work of the calligrapher. This copy is considered the best one (Inventory No. 5018). One more copy of “Diwan Nawadir al-shabab” (Diwan of Youth) by Nawai was also made by ’Abd al-Jamil in 1487.
Darvish Muhammad Taki Hiravi was a contemporary of ’Alishir Nawa’i and ’Abd al- Rahman Jami. He transcribed such works as “Baharistan” (The Spring Garden) by Jami (Inventory No. 3376) and “Lubbi lubabi ma’navi intihabi masnavi” (The Heart of Spiritual Cores, an excerpt from Mathnawi) by Husain Va’iza Kashifi (Inventory No. 2227).
Sultan Muhammad Khandan was one of the first followers of Sultan ’Ali Mashhadi (15th – 16th centuries). He devoted his life to serving Nawai since his youth. He transcribed several copies of “Diwans” (Inventory Nos. 2196, 2261).
Khwaja Abdallah Marvarid Bayani (d. 1526.) was a mentor of calligraphy, master of seven scripts. He was a calligrapher since the reign of Sultan Husayn.
You can learn more about this topic in the book-album “The Collection of the Al-Biruni Institute of Oriental studies, the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan” (part five, “Miniature and Calligraphy”) (Volume XXV) from the series "The Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan".
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