"The Merchant and his Accomplice Carry Away Goods", 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
1981.373.13
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vibrant folio from a *Kalila wa Dimna* manuscript captures a lively scene titled *"The Merchant and his Accom Carry Away Goods,"* created by an unknown artist in the quarter of the 16 century. *Kalila wa Dimna a renowned collection of animal fables adapted from ancient Indian tales into Arabic and Persian, served as moral instruction for rulers and elites, blending wisdom with wit through anthropomorphic stories. Produced during a golden age of Islamic manuscript illumination, likely in Persia or a related courtly workshop, this page exemplifies the intricate storytelling tradition of cod...