Bustan (Orchard) of Sa'di
dated A.H. 936/ 1529 CE with later additions
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; leather
Dimensions
H. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm) W. 6 5/8 in (16.8 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art, Rogers Fund and Ehsan Yarshater Gift, 1986
Accession Number
1986.216.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the poetic garden of Sa'di with this exquisite 16th-century manuscript of the *Bustan (Orchard)*, a celebrated collection of moral tales and ethical wisdom by the renowned 13th-century Persian poet'di Shirazi. Dated A.H. 936 (1529 CE) with later additions, this codex hails from the Safavid era, a golden age of Persian arts under Shah Tahmasp's patronage. Produced in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, bound in leather, it measures a compact 10⅞ × 6⅝ inches, perfect for intimate study or royal libraries. The manuscript's illuminations—featuring lush gardens, elegant men, and w...