"Abu'l Mihjan and Sa`d ibn Abi Wakkas Before a Ruler", Folio from a Khavarannama (The Book of the East) of ibn Husam al-Din
ca. 1476–86
Medium
Opaque watercolor and ink on paper
Dimensions
H. 15 7/16 in. (39.2 cm) W. 10 7/8in. (27.6 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1955
Accession Number
55.184.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio from the *Khavarannama* (The Book of the), a Persian epic poem by Maulana Muhammad Ibn Husam ad-Din, captures a dramatic moment: the poet-warrior Abu'l Mihjan the revered companion of the Prophet Muhammad, Sa`d ibn Abi Wakkas, standing before a ruler. Created around 1476–86, it hails from the vibrant tradition of late Timurid or Turkman manuscript illumination, likely produced in a Persian workshop such as Shiraz. Rendered in opaque watercolor and ink on paper (measuring 15 7/16 x 10 7/8 inches), the artwork exemplifies the refined techniques of Persian miniature painting...