Chester Beatty Library
The Chester Beatty Library is a public charitable trust established under the will of the late Sir Alfred Chester Beatty, which was granted probate in 1969. The Library is in the ownership of a Board of Trustees who hold it for the use and benefit of the public. The purpose of the Library, having regard to its duty of care, is therefore to contribute new value to the cultural life of Ireland at home and in its relations with peoples and cultures everywhere.
Described by the Lonely Planet as not just the best museum in Ireland, but one of the best in Europe, the Chester Beatty Library is an art museum and library which houses the great collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts assembled by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968). The Library's exhibitions open a window on the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world. Its rich collection from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe offers visitors a visual feast. Chester Beatty Library was named Irish Museum of the year in 2000 and was awarded the title European Museum of the Year in 2002.
Egyptian papyrus texts, beautifully illuminated copies of the Qur'an, the Bible, European medieval and renaissance manuscripts are among the highlights of the collection. Turkish and Persian miniatures and striking Buddhist paintings are also on display, as are Chinese dragon robes and Japanese woodblock prints. In its diversity, the collection captures much of the richness of human creative expression from about 2700 BC to the present day. Admission is free.
The Indian Collection of the Chester Beatty Library
The (Mughal-Era) Indian Collection of the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin comprises just over 1000 single-page paintings and examples of calligraphy as well as some 36 bound manuscripts produced in India for Mughal (mainly Muslim), Rajput (Hindu) and European patrons from the late 16th century onwards.
These works are mainly in the Persian language, though the Rajput paintings often have Urdu inscriptions. This is one of the very finest collections of Mughal paintings: it includes some of the best known and most important works, and the consistently high quality of the paintings is truly staggering. (The Qur’an Collection also includes nine Qur’ans made in India.)
A Few Highlights of the (Mughal-era) Indian Collection
CBL In 06.4b
A Folio from the “Dispersed Baburnama”
An Unidentified Water Bird (top) and a Stork/Adjutant (bottom)
By Kanha (outline) and Mani (painting)
c. 1590, Agra
CBL In 07A.1b
The Minto Album
A Mountain Sheep, by Padarath
Painting, c. 1620, India
Folio and borders, c. 1615–1625 or later, India
CBL In 07A.4a
The Minto Album
Jahangir Celebrates the Hindu Festival of Holi
Painting, c. 1635, India
Folio and borders, c. 1620–1640, India 
CBL In 07A.7a
The Minto Album
A Garden Gathering with a Prince in a Green Jama, by Bichitr
Painting, c. 1615–1620, India
Folio and borders, c. 1620–1640, India
CBL In 07A.15a
The Minto Album
Calligraphy by Mir Ali,
Calligraphy, c. 1505–1545, Iran or Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Folio and borders, c. 1616–1620, India 
CBL In 07A.19
The Minto Album
Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan with their Ministers
Painting, 1630–1631, India
Folio and borders, c. 1630–1640, India
CBL In 07B.21b
The Late Shah Jahan Album
An Equestrian Portrait of Akbar
Painting, c. 1650, India
Folio and borders, c. 1650–1658, India 
CBL In 07B.23b
The Late Shah Jahan Album
A Panel of Calligraphy Surrounded by an Arabesque Border
Calligraphy, by Mir Ali , c. 1505–1545, Iran or Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Folio and borders, c. 1650–1658, India
CBL In 07B.24a
The Late Shah Jahan Album
Panel of Calligraphy Surrounded by Flowering-Plant Borders
Calligraphy, by Mir Ali, c. 1505–1545, Iran or Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Folios and borders, c. 1650–1658, India 
CBL In 07B.28
The Nasir al-Din Shah Album
Shah Jahan with His Bejeweled Musket, by Payag
Painting, c. 1630–1635, India
Folio and outer borders, c.1627–1645, India
CBL In 07B.35
The Late Shah Jahan Album
Rustam Khan in a White Jama and Red Boots, by Hunhar
Painting, c. 1650–1657, India
Folio and borders, c. 1650–1658, India 
CBL In 07B.37b
The Late Shah Jahan Album
Panel of Calligraphy Surrounded by Flowering-Plant Borders
Calligraphy, by Mir Ali, c. 1505–1545, Iran or Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Folios and borders, c. 1650–1658, India 
CBL In 11A.34.1a
A Page of Text, from a copy of the Shahnama (Book of Kings)
Made for Jahangir
c. 1610
CBL In 34.5
The Jahangirnama (The Book of Jahangir)
Jahangir Receives a Prisoner
Painting, c. 1618–1620, India
Borders, late 18th c., India
CBL In 41.3
A Folio from an Unidentified Album
Aurangzeb as a Young Prince
Tinted brush drawing, c. 1640–1645, India
Borders, prob. 18th c., India
CBL In 43.5
A Painting from an Unidentified Album
A Woman with a Covered Cup
c.1640
CBL In 44.2
The Salim Album
Rai Sal Darbari, c.1600–1605
Folio and borders, c. 1600 -1605 
CBL In 44.3
The Salim Album
A Kanphata Yogi, c.1600
Folio and borders, c. 1600 -1605
CBL In 44.4
The Salim Album
Madonna and Child, c.1590
Folio and borders, c. 1600 -1605
CBL In 47.12a
The Gulshan Album
A Composite Arrangement of a European Print and Persian Drawings
Upper left: An Engraving of Luna, by Virgil Solis, 16th century, Germany
Center left: A Kneeling Scribe, by Riza Abbasi, c.1608–1610, Iran
Upper right: A Kneeling Figure with Two Standing Companions, c.1590–1600, Iran
Lower: A Lion, 15th –16th century, Iran
Folio and borders, c.1600–1618, India
CBL In 50.1
Salim’s Shikarnama
Salim Kills Rhinoceroses and a Lion
Painting, c.1600–1604, prob. Allahabad
Outer borders, c.1627–1645
CBL In 50.9
The Nasir al-Din Shah Album
A Panel of Persian Text Surrounded by an Arabesque Border
Calligraphy and two innermost borders, 19th c., Iran
Folio and outer borders, c.1627–1645, India
CBL Per 132, ff 25b-26a
Hilya- yi Hulal (Embroideries of Robes) of Jami
Text copied by Jami, 1452 (AH 856), Iran
Border decoration, prob. Bukhara, 16th century
