"Allusion to Sura 27:16", Folio from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
dated A.H. 892/1486 CE
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm) W. 8 in. (20.3 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1963
Accession Number
63.210.47
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio, titled *Allusion to Sura27:16*, comes a lavishly illuminated manuscript of Farid al-Din `Attar's *Mantiq al-Tayr* (Language of Birds), a 12th-century Sufi masterpiece. The poem recounts the birds' epic quest for the divine Simurgh, symbolizing the's journey toward spiritual enlightenment. Dated A. 892/148 CE, this page evokes 27:16, where King Solomon comprehends the language of birds blending mystical allegory with Islamic scripture in a tradition of Persian poetry that captivated Timurid-era audiences. Crafted by the skilled calligrapher Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi, the wo...