"The Ascetic Finds his Son Alive in his Crib", 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
1981.373.80
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio, titled *"The Ascetic Finds his Alive in his Crib*, comes from a 16th-century manuscript ofKalila wa Dimna a renowned collection of animal fables originating from ancient Indian Panchatantra tales. Adapted into Persian during the Islamic Golden Age, these stories used anthropomorphic animals to impart moral lessons on wisdom, loyalty, and human folly. in the second quarter of the 16th century by an unknown artist, this captures a poignant moment of relief and reunion, featuring men, a boy, and animals in a narrative scene rich with emotional drama. Rendered in ink and opa...