Publication Date
c. 1595
Type
Document
Language
Persian
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Physical Dimensions
197 mm x 125 mm (height x width)
Library
Chester Beatty
Record ID
In 04.62
Library Location
Indian collection
Date
c. 1595
Notes
The king forgives his chamberlain, 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. In this chapter about acts of mercy, a king abruptly fires his palace chamberlain for no reason. Without employment, the desperate steward later returns to the palace and steals a gold dish. The king realises the theft has been committed out of hunger, and forgives the man, restoring him to his post at the court. 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 verso), from partial copy of Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi (d.1504-5), painting inscribed to Anant, Agra, India, c. 1595-1600
Materyal
Paper (material), Pigment (material), Ink (material), Gold
Nesne Adı
Folio / Bi-Folio (Codex)
Yazı Tipi
Nasta'liq script
