A Gathering of Mythical Creatures around a Lotus Leaf

Art Historical Context

This delicate watercolor and ink drawing on paper, created by the Persian artist Mu’in Musvir and dated Shawwal A.H. 1088 (1677 CE), depicts a whimsical gathering of mythical creatures encircling a lotus leaf. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum Art’s Department of Islamic Art, the work belongs to the tradition of Persian codex illustration, where single-page drawings often served as independent album leaves or book illuminations. The compact dimensions—roughly 10¼ by 6 ¾ inches for the image itself—highlight the intimate scale typical of such pieces, inviting close viewing of fine linework and subtle color washes. Mu’in Musavvir’s composition blends fantasy with precise natural observation, a hallmark of late-seventeenth-century Persian painting. The lotus leaf at the center functions as both a compositional anchor and a symbol of purity, while the surrounding creatures suggest themes of harmony in an imagined realm, drawn from literary and poetic sources popular in Safavid-era workshops. Acquired in 2016 as a gift from William and James Morton in memory of their brother, Sandy Morton—a noted Persian scholar and collector—the drawing offers visitors a window into the refined visual culture of the period. Its presence in the museum underscores the enduring appeal of these intricate works on paper.