Ivan Aguéli (born John Gustaf Agelii) (May 24, 1869 – October 1, 1917) also named Shaykh ʿAbd al-Hādī al-ʿAqīlī (Arabic: شيخ عبد الهادی عقیلی) upon his conversion to Islam, was a Swedish wandering Sufi, painter and author. As a devotee of Ibn Arabi, his metaphysics applied to the study of Islamic esoterism and its similarities with other esoteric traditions of the world. He was one of the initiators of René Guénon into Sufism[1] and founder of the Parisian Al Akbariyya society. His art was a unique form of miniature Post-Impressionism where he used the blend of colours to create a sense of depth and distance. His unique style of art made him one of the founders of the Swedish contemporary art movement.
Between the years 1879–1889, Aguéli conducted his studies in Gotland and Stockholm. Early on in his youth he began showing an exceptional artistic talent and a keen interest in religious mysticism.
Returning to Stockholm in 1890, Aguéli attended art school in Stockholm where he was taught by the Swedish artists Anders Zorn and Richard Bergh. By the end of 1892, he again returned to Paris, where he became acquainted with French poet and animal-rights activist Marie Huot (1846–1930).
Active in French anarchist circles, he was in 1894 arrested and put on trial in the "Trial of the thirty". Within months of his release in 1895 he left France for Egypt, where he lived until he returned to Paris in 1896.[4] It was later on in Paris that Aguéli ended up converting to Islam and adopted the name 'Abd al-Hadi.
In 1899 he travelled to Colombo (in today's Sri Lanka), again returning to France in 1900.[5]
Egypt
In 1902 Aguéli moved to Cairo and became one of the first Western Europeans to be officially enrolled at Al-Azhar University, where he studied Arabic and Islamic philosophy.[6] In 1902 he was also initiated into the al-'Arabiyya Shadhiliyya Sufi order by the great Egyptian Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahman Ilaysh al-Kabir (1840–1921).[7]
With the blessing of Shaykh Ilaysh, Aguéli and an Italian journalist named Enrico Insabato (1878–1963) founded and contributed to a magazine published in Cairo (1904–1913) named Il Convito (Arabic: An-Nadi). This was published in Italian and Arabic (and briefly also in Ottoman Turkish). In Arabic, it promoted a favorable view of Italy as a friend of Islam, and in Italian it promoted a favorable view of Islam. It contains the first known use of the term "Islamophobia," in an article by Aguéli.
Al Akbariyya
Aguéli founded Al Akbariyya as a secret Sufi society in Paris in 1911. Among its first members was René Guénon. Its purpose was to promote the teachings of Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi among the "scholarly, educated and freethinking classes..."[8] through the practice of the Shadhili and Malamati Sufi paths. The only time this society is mentioned is in a letter written by Aguéli in September 1911 to an unknown address in Cairo announcing its founding,[8] not much more is known.
During this period, Aguéli wrote several articles on Islamic topics for La Gnose, an esoteric journal edited by Guénon. These articles were late reprinted in Études traditionnelles, the main journal of the Traditionalist movement.
First World War and Spain
Suspected to be an Ottoman spy he was expelled to Spain in 1916. Stranded in Spain, Aguéli was left without money to return to Sweden and on October 1, 1917 he was killed by a train at a rail crossing in the village of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat outside Barcelona.[9]
After Aguéli's death, Prince Eugen Bernadotte, who was known as a patron of artists, made certain to return his paintings and belongings to Sweden.
In Sweden, Aguéli is admired as a celebrated contemporary painter. Most of his paintings are found at the Swedish National Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Modern Art and the Aguéli Museum in Sala. Aguéli's impact in Sweden was clearly shown in 1969 when, at the centenary of his birth, six of his paintings were printed as stamps by the Swedish Postal Service.
Aguéli is also recognized as an important influence on Guénon and through him on the Traditionalist movement. His views on Islamic esotericism have been widely adopted.
Aguéli's remains were kept in Barcelona, Spain until 1981, when he was brought back to Sweden and re-buried with Islamic rites in his hometown of Sala.
The Aguéli Museum in Sala has the largest collection of his artworks, donated by Sala's well-known physician Carl Friberg to the Nationalmuseum.
Gauffin, Axel; Ivan Aguéli – Människan, mystikern, målaren I-II, Sveriges Allmänna Konstförenings Publikation, 1940–41.
Wessel, Viveca; Ivan Aguéli – Porträtt av en rymd, 1988.
English:
Chacornac, Paul; The Simple Life of Réne Guénon, pp. 31–37, Sophia Perennis.
Hatina, Meir; Where East Meets West: Sufism as a Lever for Cultural Rapprochement, pp. 389–409, Volume 39, International Journal of Middle East Studies, Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Jobst, Sean; "Ivan Aguéli: The Unity of Art in Mysticism," in Mystics, Scholars and Holy Men, ed. Troy Southgate. London: Black Front Press, 2014, pp. 183-211.
Nasr, Seyyed Hossein; Sufism: Love and Wisdom, page X of foreword, Worldwisdom, 2006.
Nur ad-Din, Farid (introduction and translation); Universality in Islam, Studies in Comparative Religion, Worldwisdom, 2011.
Sedgwick, Mark (ed.); Anarchist, Artist, Sufi The Politics, Painting, and Esotericism of Ivan Aguéli, Bloomsbury, 2021, ISBN 9781350177895
Turner, Jade (ed.); The Grove Dictionary of Art, pp. 465–466, Grove, 1996.
Waterfield, Robin; Réne Guénon and the Future of the West, pp. 28–30, Sophia Perennis.
French:
Abdul-Hâdi (John Gustav Agelii, dit Ivan Aguéli); Écrits pour La Gnose, comprenant la traduction de l'arabe du Traité de l'Unité, Archè, 1988.
ivan, aguéli, sheikh, abdul, hadi, redirects, here, singaporean, footballer, sheikh, abdul, hadi, footballer, born, john, gustaf, agelii, 1869, october, 1917, also, named, shaykh, ʿabd, hādī, ʿaqīlī, arabic, شيخ, عبد, الهادی, عقیلی, upon, conversion, islam, sw. Sheikh Abdul Hadi redirects here For the Singaporean footballer see Sheikh Abdul Hadi footballer Ivan Agueli born John Gustaf Agelii May 24 1869 October 1 1917 also named Shaykh ʿAbd al Hadi al ʿAqili Arabic شيخ عبد الهادی عقیلی upon his conversion to Islam was a Swedish wandering Sufi painter and author As a devotee of Ibn Arabi his metaphysics applied to the study of Islamic esoterism and its similarities with other esoteric traditions of the world He was one of the initiators of Rene Guenon into Sufism 1 and founder of the Parisian Al Akbariyya society His art was a unique form of miniature Post Impressionism where he used the blend of colours to create a sense of depth and distance His unique style of art made him one of the founders of the Swedish contemporary art movement Ivan Agueli Abd al Hadi Aqili Ivan Agueli in Cairo TitleSheikh Muqaddim of Europe PersonalBorn 1869 05 24 May 24 1869Sala Vastmanland SwedenDiedOctober 1 1917 1917 10 01 aged 48 L Hospitalet de Llobregat Catalonia SpainReligionSunni IslamRegionEurope EgyptCreedShadhili MalamatiyyaMain interest s Sufism Impressionism Symbolism Comparative religion Animal rights AnarchismNotable idea s Non syncretic metaphysical comparative analysis of orthodox religious esotericisms the core of the traditionalist method Notable work s Ecrits pour La Gnose French Senior postingInfluenced by Emanuel Swedenborg Ibn ArabiInfluenced Rene Guenon Contents 1 Childhood and youth 2 Egypt 3 Al Akbariyya 4 First World War and Spain 5 Agueli s legacy 6 Bibliography 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksChildhood and youth EditIvan Agueli was born John Gustaf Agelii in the small Swedish town of Sala in 1869 the son of veterinarian Johan Gabriel Agelii Through his mother he was related to the 18th century Swedish metaphysician Emanuel Swedenborg 2 Between the years 1879 1889 Agueli conducted his studies in Gotland and Stockholm Early on in his youth he began showing an exceptional artistic talent and a keen interest in religious mysticism In 1889 he adopted the name Ivan Agueli and travelled to Paris where he became the student of the Symbolist painter Emile Bernard Before returning to Sweden in 1890 he made a detour to London where he met the Russian anarchist scholar Prince Kropotkin 3 Returning to Stockholm in 1890 Agueli attended art school in Stockholm where he was taught by the Swedish artists Anders Zorn and Richard Bergh By the end of 1892 he again returned to Paris where he became acquainted with French poet and animal rights activist Marie Huot 1846 1930 Active in French anarchist circles he was in 1894 arrested and put on trial in the Trial of the thirty Within months of his release in 1895 he left France for Egypt where he lived until he returned to Paris in 1896 4 It was later on in Paris that Agueli ended up converting to Islam and adopted the name Abd al Hadi In 1899 he travelled to Colombo in today s Sri Lanka again returning to France in 1900 5 Egypt EditIn 1902 Agueli moved to Cairo and became one of the first Western Europeans to be officially enrolled at Al Azhar University where he studied Arabic and Islamic philosophy 6 In 1902 he was also initiated into the al Arabiyya Shadhiliyya Sufi order by the great Egyptian Shaykh Abd al Rahman Ilaysh al Kabir 1840 1921 7 With the blessing of Shaykh Ilaysh Agueli and an Italian journalist named Enrico Insabato 1878 1963 founded and contributed to a magazine published in Cairo 1904 1913 named Il Convito Arabic An Nadi This was published in Italian and Arabic and briefly also in Ottoman Turkish In Arabic it promoted a favorable view of Italy as a friend of Islam and in Italian it promoted a favorable view of Islam It contains the first known use of the term Islamophobia in an article by Agueli Al Akbariyya EditAgueli founded Al Akbariyya as a secret Sufi society in Paris in 1911 Among its first members was Rene Guenon Its purpose was to promote the teachings of Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi among the scholarly educated and freethinking classes 8 through the practice of the Shadhili and Malamati Sufi paths The only time this society is mentioned is in a letter written by Agueli in September 1911 to an unknown address in Cairo announcing its founding 8 not much more is known During this period Agueli wrote several articles on Islamic topics for La Gnose an esoteric journal edited by Guenon These articles were late reprinted in Etudes traditionnelles the main journal of the Traditionalist movement First World War and Spain EditSuspected to be an Ottoman spy he was expelled to Spain in 1916 Stranded in Spain Agueli was left without money to return to Sweden and on October 1 1917 he was killed by a train at a rail crossing in the village of L Hospitalet de Llobregat outside Barcelona 9 After Agueli s death Prince Eugen Bernadotte who was known as a patron of artists made certain to return his paintings and belongings to Sweden Agueli s legacy Edit The Fountain of Ivan Agueli in Sala In Sweden Agueli is admired as a celebrated contemporary painter Most of his paintings are found at the Swedish National Museum of Fine Arts the Museum of Modern Art and the Agueli Museum in Sala Agueli s impact in Sweden was clearly shown in 1969 when at the centenary of his birth six of his paintings were printed as stamps by the Swedish Postal Service Agueli is also recognized as an important influence on Guenon and through him on the Traditionalist movement His views on Islamic esotericism have been widely adopted Agueli s remains were kept in Barcelona Spain until 1981 when he was brought back to Sweden and re buried with Islamic rites in his hometown of Sala The Agueli Museum in Sala has the largest collection of his artworks donated by Sala s well known physician Carl Friberg to the Nationalmuseum Bibliography EditSwedish Almqvist Kurt I tjanst hos det enda ur Rene Guenons verk Natur amp Kultur 1977 Almqvist Kurt Ordet ar dig nara Om uppenbarelsen i hjartat och i religionerna Delsbo 1994 Brummer Hans Erik red Ivan Agueli Stockholm 2006 Ekelof Gunnar Ivan Agueli 1944 Gauffin Axel Ivan Agueli Manniskan mystikern malaren I II Sveriges Allmanna Konstforenings Publikation 1940 41 Wessel Viveca Ivan Agueli Portratt av en rymd 1988 English Chacornac Paul The Simple Life of Rene Guenon pp 31 37 Sophia Perennis Hatina Meir Where East Meets West Sufism as a Lever for Cultural Rapprochement pp 389 409 Volume 39 International Journal of Middle East Studies Cambridge University Press 2007 Jobst Sean Ivan Agueli The Unity of Art in Mysticism in Mystics Scholars and Holy Men ed Troy Southgate London Black Front Press 2014 pp 183 211 Nasr Seyyed Hossein Sufism Love and Wisdom page X of foreword Worldwisdom 2006 Nur ad Din Farid introduction and translation Universality in Islam Studies in Comparative Religion Worldwisdom 2011 Sedgwick Mark ed Anarchist Artist Sufi The Politics Painting and Esotericism of Ivan Agueli Bloomsbury 2021 ISBN 9781350177895 Turner Jade ed The Grove Dictionary of Art pp 465 466 Grove 1996 Waterfield Robin Rene Guenon and the Future of the West pp 28 30 Sophia Perennis French Abdul Hadi John Gustav Agelii dit Ivan Agueli Ecrits pour La Gnose comprenant la traduction de l arabe du Traite de l Unite Arche 1988 See also Edit Biography portal Islam portalHossein Nasr Titus Burckhardt Martin Lings Shadhiliyya MalamatiyyaReferences Edit Waterfield p 29 Patrick Laude Universal Dimensions of Islam Studies in Comparative Religion World Wisdom 2011 p 134 Gauffin I p 67 Gauffin I pp 131 Gauffin II pp 42 Gauffin II pp 121 Almqvist pp 17 19 a b Gauffin Axel 1940 Ivan Agueli Manniskan mystikern malaren in Swedish Vol 2 Sveriges Allmanna Konstforenings Publikation pp 188 189 Brummer pp 63 64External links EditThe Ivan Agueli Website Agueli Museum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ivan Agueli amp oldid 1131163942, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
