gold

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Gold is applied in the form of 'swirling golden clouds' to frame figures and as a 'nimbus (gold fiery halo)' around the head of the Prophet (p. 39). It signifies the Prophet’s luminosity as the source of all light, a concept conveyed in Sa'di's Bustan where the gold frames Muhammad and Buraq (p. 39). The nimbus was a widespread artistic device employed across Ilkhanid, Timurid, Safavid, Ottoman, Mughal, and Qajar periods (p. 39).

Evidence

"Both paintings demonstrate the same color symbolism; the use of golden clouds to represent the Prophet’s divine status... Gruber examined the use of the nimbus (gold fiery halo) around the Prophet’s head to convey his elevated status in the mi‘raj paintings."

Remarks

In the paintings analyzed, gold is used to represent the celestial realm and the divine status of the Prophet (p. 39). The author notes that the contrast between these golden elements and the deep blue sky reflects the boundary between the celestial and earthly realms (p. 39). The use of gold is an intellectual and artistic abstraction of the splendor of the mi‘raj journey (p. 38).