Bustan (Orchard) of Sa'di
dated A.H. 929/1522–23 CE
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; leather binding
Dimensions
H. 11 1/2 (29.2 cm) W. 7 3/4 in. (19.7cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911
Accession Number
11.134.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the lush world of Persian poetry with the *Bustan (Orchard) of Sa'di*, a magnificent illuminated manuscript created in A.H. 929 (1522–23 CE). Composed by the 13th-century poet Sai, one of Persia's greatest literary figures, codex features his renowned collection of moral tales in verse, exploring themes of ethics, love, and human folly. The master calligrapher Mir 'Ali-Husaini, from the celebrated Herat school, meticulously copied the text in elegant nasta'liq script, a fluid style that epitomizes the pinnacle of Islamic calligraphy during the early Safavid era. Crafted with ink, op...
About the Artist
Mir 'Ali al-Husaini|Sa'di ( |Iranian) · |1213 – |1291
|Iranian, Shiraz ca. 1213–1291 Shiraz