Sufism Collection

DANCING DERVISHES, 1490. Persian Timurid manuscript illumination, 1490

The Mevlevi, (Whirling Dervishes) performing the Sufi dance, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Whirling dervishes, Istanbul, Marmara province, Turkey, Europe

Taken at the Royal Albert Hall, London, the Whirling Dervishes of Konya, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

Wandering Uzbek Dervishes from Samarkand. Dervish or Darvesh in Persian usually refers to a person who is a seeker of the truth i.e. universal truth

Bukhara Dervish from Uzbekistan. Dervish or Darvesh in Persian usually refers to a person who is a seeker of the truth i.e. universal truth

Whirling Dervishes at the Dervishes Festival, Konya, Central Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

Persian Dervish - Paris Exhibition
Persian Dervish at the Paris Exposition in 1900. Dervish or Darvesh in Persian usually refers to a person who is a seeker of the truth i.e. universal truth

The Mevlevi, (Whirling Dervishes) performing the Sema (ceremony), Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Lady pilgrim in blue burqa sitting in doorway at Sufi shrine of Gazargah, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Pilgrims in the hallway, Sufi shrine of Gazargah, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Ms E-14 Mystical conversation between Sufic sheikhs (gouache on paper)
XIR155439 Ms E-14 Mystical conversation between Sufic sheikhs (gouache on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); Institute of Oriental Studies, St. Petersburg, Russia; Indian, out of copyright

Tombs of Nizamuddin Aulia, Delhi, India (b/w photo)
2598040 Tombs of Nizamuddin Aulia, Delhi, India (b/w photo) by Indian photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sultan-ul-Mashaikh, Mehboob-e-Ilahi)

Sufi, Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Rajasthan, India, Asia

Uzbekistan, Bukhara, Bahouddin Nakshbandi historical architectural complex

Tower tomb, 1281, Radkan, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Whirling Dervishes, Istanbul, Turkey

Iranian Wandering Dervish. Dervish or Darvesh in Persian usually refers to a person who is a seeker of the truth i.e. universal truth

Shaykh Sanan and the Christian Maiden (oil on canvas)
3588510 Shaykh Sanan and the Christian Maiden (oil on canvas) by Qajar School (19th century); 64.1 wide cm; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, CA

Detail from A Dervish, Seated in Contemplation, c. 1650 (opaque w / c & gold on paper)
874402 Detail from A Dervish, Seated in Contemplation, c.1650 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); 16.4 x12 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

The qualities of the dervish, c. 1610 (opaque w / c, ink & gold on paper)
874310 The qualities of the dervish, c.1610 (opaque w/c, ink & gold on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); 27 x16.7 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

A fakir (chromolitho)
2782687 A fakir (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A fakir. Liebig card, published in late 19th or early 20th century)

Dance of the whirling Dervishes of Mawlawi Tawagozi. Sufi Dervishes in tall hats dance in a circle to accompaniment by musicians on drums, psaltery and sistrum. Ballo dei Dervisch Mewlewi

Two Sufi Dervish devotees at prayer
Two Dervish penitents performing prayer rituals in a Dervish lodge. One with his hair tied to the ceiling with a cord, and another with band around hands and knees holding prayer beads

Dance of the Mewlewis Dervishes in Constantinople, 1811 (coloured engraving)
CHT174615 Dance of the Mewlewis Dervishes in Constantinople, 1811 (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Persian Sufis, early 19th century (engraving)
CHT223755 Persian Sufis, early 19th century (engraving) by Italian School, (19th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; Italian, out of copyright

European scenes (coloured engraving)
5998856 European scenes (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: European scenes)

Portrait of a Sufi sheikh, c. 1670 (opaque w / c & gold on paper)
874414 Portrait of a Sufi sheikh, c.1670 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); 19 x10.9 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

A Dervish, Seated in Contemplation, c. 1650 (opaque w / c & gold on paper)
874403 A Dervish, Seated in Contemplation, c.1650 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); 16.4 x12 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

Dancing Dervishes, c. 1480 (opaque watercolour and gold on paper)
6176508 Dancing Dervishes, c.1480 (opaque watercolour and gold on paper) by Bihzad (fl.1500) (attr. to); 29.9x18.9 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Sufi, playing the ney, sits in a Turkish cemetery among the inscribed grave slabs
STC444517 Sufi, playing the ney, sits in a Turkish cemetery among the inscribed grave slabs, illustration from Souvenirs de Constantinople, pub

The Dargah at Nizamuddin (opaque w / c on paper)
425423 The Dargah at Nizamuddin (opaque w/c on paper) by Yusuf, Muhammad (19th century); 44.5x58.8 cm; Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Lawa ih (Effulgences of Light) possibly Herat, Iran, Safavid period, c
FSG348687 Lawa ih (Effulgences of Light) possibly Herat, Iran, Safavid period, c.1521-25 (opaque watercolour, ink and gold on paper) by Husayni, Mir Ali Al (fl.c.1531-32); 29 x 18.2 cm; Arthur M

Dervish who eats scorpions, Egypt (litho)
5997015 Dervish who eats scorpions, Egypt (litho) by Gentz, Karl Wilhelm (1822-1890); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dervish who eats scorpions, Egypt)

Saadi Shirazi, Persian poet (litho)
5208305 Saadi Shirazi, Persian poet (litho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Saadi Shirazi (1210-1292), Persian poet

The qualities of the dervish, detail, c. 1610 (opaque w / c, ink & gold on paper)
874309 The qualities of the dervish, detail, c.1610 (opaque w/c, ink & gold on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); 27 x16.7 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

Le Tekie (engraving)
2783120 Le Tekie (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le Tekie. Illustration for Journal Des Voyages, 26 March 1893.); © Look and Learn

Whirling Dervishes (engraving) (b / w photo)
CHT223754 Whirling Dervishes (engraving) (b/w photo) by French School, (18th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French, out of copyright

Ritual of the whirling dervishes at Konya (vellum)
REV287696 Ritual of the whirling dervishes at Konya (vellum) by Ottoman School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: rituel des derviches tourneurs a Konya; ); Turkish, out of copyright

Mendicant Dervishes (chromolitho)
3096884 Mendicant Dervishes (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mendicant Dervishes. Liebig card, published in late 19th or early 20th century)

The Dargah (sanctuary) at Nizamuddin (opaque w / c on paper)
5973725 The Dargah (sanctuary) at Nizamuddin (opaque w/c on paper) by Yusuf, Muhammad (19th century); 44.5x58.8 cm; Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, USA; Arthur M

Fakir (chromolitho)
972287 Fakir (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fakir. Chocolat-Louit educational card.); © Look and Learn

The Late Abd-el-Kader (engraving)
1049092 The Late Abd-el-Kader (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Late Abd-el-Kader)

A group of Indian saints and holy men, including Mullah Shah and Aurangzeb, seated, c
874350 A group of Indian saints and holy men, including Mullah Shah and Aurangzeb, seated, c.1725 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (18th century); 34 x24.2 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

Les Derviches Hurleurs Et Trembleurs (engraving)
2789153 Les Derviches Hurleurs Et Trembleurs (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Les Derviches Hurleurs Et Trembleurs)

Mendicant Dervishes (chromolitho)
2782688 Mendicant Dervishes (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mendicant Dervishes. Liebig card, published in late 19th or early 20th century)

Fakirs, c. 1862 (b / w photo)
498597 Fakirs, c.1862 (b/w photo) by Shepherd & Robertson (fl.1860s); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fakirs are Muslim Sufi ascetics.); British, out of copyright

A Dervish with leopard skin, c. 1855
SC20368 A Dervish with leopard skin, c.1855 by Preziosi, Amadeo (1816-82); Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK; Maltese, out of copyright

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Sufism, an ancient mystical tradition within Islam, is beautifully depicted in various forms of art and cultural practices. One such portrayal can be seen in the Persian Timurid manuscript illumination from 1490, showcasing dancing dervishes immersed in spiritual ecstasy. These mesmerizing movements are also witnessed today as the Mevlevi or Whirling Dervishes perform their Sufi dance in Istanbul, Turkey. Their graceful spins and twirls symbolize a divine connection with the universe. Captured at the Royal Albert Hall, we witness the enchanting performance of these whirling dervishes. Originating from Samarkand and Bukhara in Uzbekistan, wandering Uzbek dervishes bring their unique interpretation to different corners of the world. Meanwhile, Konya hosts an annual Dervishes Festival where whirling dervishes gather to celebrate this sacred practice. The influence extends beyond geographical boundaries; even Paris had its encounter with a Persian dervish during an exhibition. The Mevlevi order continues to preserve this mystical heritage by performing the Sema ceremony that captivates audiences in Istanbul. In addition to these vibrant displays, Sufi shrines serve as sanctuaries for pilgrims seeking spiritual solace. A lady pilgrim dressed in a blue burqa finds tranquility sitting at the doorway of Gazargah shrine while others find themselves immersed within its hallways during their pilgrimage journey. Artistic depictions further illuminate our understanding of Sufism's essence - one such example being Ms E-14 Mystical conversation between Sufic sheikhs portrayed through gouache on paper. This artwork captures profound conversations held amongst esteemed sheikhs who delve into esoteric knowledge and wisdom. Through dancing dervishes and sacred rituals performed across continents like Europe, Asia Minor (Eurasia), and Central Anatolia (Turkey), sufi mysticism continues to inspire and enchant individuals seeking a deeper connection with the divine.