Publication Date
c. 1595-1600
Type
Document
Language
Persian
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Physical Dimensions
199 mm x 127 mm (height x width)
Library
Chester Beatty
Record ID
In 04.36
Library Location
Indian collection
Date
c. 1595-1600
Notes
The monkey king meets the river tortoise, by Shankar Gujarati, from Lights of Canopus (Anvār-i Suhaylī) by Ḥusayn Vā`iẓ Kāshifī. Writing in a sophisticated court style, Kāshifī composed an updated version of these lively animal fables, which have a long transmission history going back to Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit texts. In this story, Kardana the wise monkey king has been removed from power, and gone quietly into exile. He makes a new life living on a river island, where he passes the time throwing figs from the tree into the water below. A river tortoise comes to eat the fallen figs. The monkey and tortoise begin talking, and over time the two become friends, meeting every day. Folio, ink, gold and colours on paper, Persian text in nasta`liq script, with painting (on verso), from Lights of Canopus (Anvār-i Suhaylī) by Kamāl al-Dīn Ḥusayn Vā`iẓ Kāshifī (d. 1504-5), produced for the court of Mughal emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605), painting inscribed (lower left margin) as the work of (`amal) Shankar Gujarati, Agra, India, undated, c. 1595-1600.
Materyal
Paper (material), Pigment (material), Ink (material), Gold
Nesne Adı
Folio / Bi-Folio (Codex)
Yazı Tipi
Nasta`liq script
