"A Bathhouse Keeper is Consumed by Passion for his Beloved", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi

1597–98

Not on view

Matla’ al-Anwar (Rising of the Luminaries), the first poem of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi’s Quintet, is comprised of 3310 verses compiled approximately in twenty Maqalat (didactic discourses). Matla’ al-Anwar is a response by Amir Khusrau to Nizami Ganjavi’s Makhzan al-Asrar. Painted at Lahore by Nar sing, this painting shows a bathhouse keeper who falls in love when he sees the king on his visit with his retinue. Attention gained by the King, stokes the heat of mystical love that enflames the bathhouse keeper. The King and most of his entourage raise their index fingers in awe and surprise at the sight of the beholder. The painting has a border in siyah qalam (monochrome) style with deer, foxes, hares, and hunting lions in a naturalistic setting with birds perching in the trees.

Artwork Details

Title: "A Bathhouse Keeper is Consumed by Passion for his Beloved", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
Author: Amir Khusrau Dihlavi (Indian, Patiyali, 1253–1325 Delhi)
Artist: Painted by Nar Singh
Date: 1597–98
Geography: Made in present-day Pakistan, Lahore
Medium: Main support: Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Margins: Gold on dyed paper
Dimensions: Image: H. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
Page: H. 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm)
W. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm)
Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm)
W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Gift of Alexander Smith Cochran, 1913
Object Number: 13.228.31
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

By Amir Khusrau Dihlavi

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

"Khizr Comes to the Ascetic's Cell", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, Amir Khusrau Dihlavi Indian, Ink and opaque watercolor on paper — "Khizr Comes to the Ascetic's Cell", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
ca. 1450

"Entertainment in a Garden", Folio from a Khamsa of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, Matla' al-Anvar
, Amir Khusrau Dihlavi Indian, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper — "Entertainment in a Garden", Folio from a Khamsa of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, Matla' al-Anvar
Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
second half 16th century

"The Story of the Princess of the Blue Pavillion: The Youth of Rum Is Entertained in a Garden by a Fairy and her Maidens", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, Amir Khusrau Dihlavi Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — "The Story of the Princess of the Blue Pavillion: The Youth of Rum Is Entertained in a Garden by a Fairy and her Maidens", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
Multiple artists/makers
1597–98

Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, Amir Khusrau Dihlavi Indian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
17th century

"A Muslim Pilgrim Learns a Lesson in Piety from a Brahman", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, Amir Khusrau Dihlavi Indian, Image: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper<br/>Margins: Gold on dyed paper — "A Muslim Pilgrim Learns a Lesson in Piety from a Brahman", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
Multiple artists/makers
1597–98

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.