Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

"Shaikh Mahneh and the Villager", Folio 49r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)

Author Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian
1487
Not on view
This painting illustrates a story that stresses the importance of the quest (talab). The story is as follows: Shaikh Mahneh (Abu Sa'id Mihna'i, 967–1049), a famous shaikh of Khorasan, wandered in the wilderness in a state of depression. He saw a peasant in the distance cultivating wasteland with an ox-plow. The peasant emitted light. Shaikh Mahneh approached the peasant and told him of his painful condition. The peasant advised him to be patient and pursue the endless quest.

This illustration depicts the conversation between the peasant and Shaikh Mahneh in the foreground. On the other hand, a group of men weighing melons and a dervish sleeping at the base of a tree have no connection to the text itself. The reason for the inclusion of this scene awaits further research.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Shaikh Mahneh and the Villager", Folio 49r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
  • Author: Farid al-Din `Attar (Iranian, Nishapur ca. 1142–ca. 1220 Nishapur)
  • Date: 1487
  • Geography: Made in present-day Afghanistan, Herat
  • Medium: Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)
    W. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1963
  • Object Number: 63.210.49
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
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
"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Painting attributed to Qasim ibn 'Ali
ca. 1530
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

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries and chronologies from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.