"Fable of the Lion and the Hare", Folio from a Kalila wa Dimna
Unknown Artist
dated A.H. 733/1333 CE
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: H. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm) W. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm) Page: H. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm) W. 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm) Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm) W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1959
Accession Number
59.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate folio, titled *Fable of the Lion the Hare*, comes from a 14th-century manuscript *Kalila wa Dimna*, a beloved collection of animal fables originating from ancient Indian tales like the Panchatantra. Translated into Persian and Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age, these stories—featuring anthropomorphic animals like the cunning hare outwitting the mighty lion—impart moral lessons on wisdom, power, and humility. Dating to A.H. 733/1333 CE, this page captures the essence of medieval storytelling through vivid illustration, a hallmark of Persianate manuscript traditions. Crafted wi...