"Steinbok", Folio from a Dispersed Nuzhatnama-i ‘A’a’i of Shahmardan ibn Abi’l Khayr
late 15th–early 16th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 9 13/16 in. (24.9 cm) W. 6 5/16 in. (16 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Richard Ettinghausen, 1975
Accession Number
1975.192.11
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the graceful "Steinbok," a captivating folio from the dispersed *Nuzhatnama-i ‘Ala*, an illustrated Persian encyclopedia compiled by Shahmardan ibn’l Khayr in the late 15th to early 16th century. This Timurid-era masterpiece hails from the vibrant artistic hub of Herat, where Shahmardan, a master illustrator, blended scientific observation with poetic beauty. Part of a larger codex exploring the wonders of the natural world, it showcases a sleek steinbok—an African antelope—poised amid blooming flowers and lush leaves, evoking the harmony of creation in Islamic cosmology. Crafted with ...