The Blue Qur’an has long been recognised as one of the most significant examples of early Islamic manuscript production, but its exact origins have not yet been firmly established. Past scholarly theories have suggested various locations and contexts including Abbasid Iraq, Fatimid North Africa, Aghlabid North Africa or Sicily and Umayyad Spain. In order to more fully understand the Blue Qur’an and determine its origins, three important aspects will be examined: The background tradition of purple and blue manuscripts in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East in the late Antique and early medieval periods. The material ways in which the Blue Qur’an has altered since its production, including natural changes to pigments and man-made alterations introduced to the manuscript. New art historical evidence and analysis that points firmly to a specific historical context and place and date of production.

Marcus Fraser is Honorary Keeper of Islamic Manuscripts and Miniatures at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK. His research focuses on the Islamic arts of the book, particularly Qur’anic calligraphy and illumination, and Persian and Mughal painting. He has catalogued many significant museum and private collections of Islamic manuscripts and is currently cataloguing the Islamic manuscripts and Indian miniatures at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Other recent projects have included contributions to exhibition catalogues at the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Palace Museum, Beijing.