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"The Beggar who Professed his Love for a Prince", Folio 28r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)

Author Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian
dated 892 AH/1486 CE
Not on view
This painting once formed part of a rare surviving illustrated copy of Farid al‑Din 'Attar’s mystical poem, the Mantiq al‑Tair (Language of the Birds). Commissioned by a wealthy patron during the reign of the Timurid ruler Sultan Husain Baiqara (r. 1470–1506) at Herat, the manuscript contains four fifteenth‑century paintings—attributed by some to the celebrated master Bihzad.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "The Beggar who Professed his Love for a Prince", Folio 28r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
  • Author: Farid al-Din `Attar (Iranian, Nishapur ca. 1142–ca. 1220 Nishapur)
  • Date: dated 892 AH/1486 CE
  • Geography: Made in present-day Afghanistan, Herat
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Painting: H. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm)
    W. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
    Page: H. 13 1/16 in. (33.2 cm)
    W. 8 7/16 in. (21.4 cm)
    Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm)
    W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1963
  • Object Number: 63.210.28
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Binding and Text-Block for the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Binding: Leather, gold, and color; carved, impressed, and gilded<br/>Text-block: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Binding and Text-Block for the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
ca. 1600
Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Binding: doublure
Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
ca. 1600
Page of Calligraphy from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Page of Calligraphy from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
dated 892 AH/1486 CE
"Allusion to Sura 27:16", Folio from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Allusion to Sura 27:16", Folio from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
dated 892 AH/1486 CE
"Shaikh Mahneh and the Villager", Folio 49r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
"Shaikh Mahneh and the Villager", Folio 49r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
1487

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