Folio from a Kalila wa Dimna
Unknown Artist
second quarter 16th century
Medium
Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
Overall: H. 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm) W. 8 7/8 in. (22.6 cm) Average text size: H. 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm) W. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Alice and Nasli Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Alice Heeramaneck, 1981
Accession Number
1981.373.97
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio from a *Kalila wa Dimna* manuscript created by an unknown artist in the quarter of the 16 century, offers a glimpse into the rich of Islamic illuminated codices. *Kalila wa Dimna an Arabic adaptation of ancient Indian fables known as the Panchatantra features anthropomorphic animals and moral tales that impart wisdom on kingship, friendship, and ethics. Popular across Persian and Islamic courts, such manuscripts were prized for their blend of storytelling and artistry, often produced in workshops in Safavid Iran or Mughal India. Rendered in ink and opaque watercolor on pa...