Publication Date
c. 1595
Type
Document
Language
Persian
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Physical Dimensions
197 mm x 126 mm (height x width)
Library
Chester Beatty
Record ID
In 04.65
Library Location
Indian collection
Date
c. 1595
Notes
The lion ignores the lynx's warning of divine retribution, folio from Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli), a reworking of the animal fables Kalila and Dimna (Kalila wa Dimna), composed by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi. The peaceful-minded lynx returns to the lion's court, and warns the king of his observations that violent brutality leads to retribution. The lion angrily ignores his advice, and kills two fawns (observed by the disappointed lynx). This act leads to a hunter tracking the lion to his den, and killing the lion's cubs. This folio is from a copy of a highly-regarded Persian text, written by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi (d.1504-05), a preacher and scholar at the Timurid court in Herat (modern Afghanistan). His patron was Amir Shaykh Suhayli, whose last name is punningly inserted into the new title. Writing in a sophisticated court style, Kashifi composed an updated version of these lively animal fables, which have a long transmission history going back to Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit texts. This manuscript was made in Mughal India, and features 96 paintings (mounted separately). Detached folio, ink, gold and colours on paper, Persian text in nasta`liq script, painting (on recto), from partial copy of Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi (d.1504-5), Agra, India, c. 1595-1600.
Materyal
Paper (material), Pigment (material), Ink (material), Gold
Nesne Adı
Folio / Bi-Folio (Codex)
Yazı Tipi
Nasta'liq script
