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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

More Artwork
Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Binding: doublure
Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Author Farid al-Din `Attar
Calligrapher Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
ca. 1600
"Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin", Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin", Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Multiple artists/makers
dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE
"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Painting attributed to Sultan Muhammad
ca. 1525
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)
Author Farid al-Din `Attar
ca. 1600
"Dancing Dervishes", Folio from a Divan of Hafiz, Hafiz Iranian, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
"Dancing Dervishes", Folio from a Divan of Hafiz
Poet Hafiz
Painting attributed to Bihzad
ca. 1480

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