"The Servants of One of the Monarchs of Ghur Make Obeisance Before Him", Folio from a Kulliyat (Complete Works) of Sa'di
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: H. 9 13/16 in. (24.9 cm) W. 4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm) Page: H. 14 in. (35.6 cm) W. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 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
Gift of Alexander Smith Cochran, 1913
Accession Number
13.228.10.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite folio from a 19th-century *Kulliyat* ( works) of the renowned Persian poet Sa'di illustrates a scene titled *"The Servants of One the Monarchs of Gh Make Obeisance Before."* It captures a moment of profound respect, where attendants and horsemen bow before a Ghurid ruler, evoking the grandeur of medieval Islamic courts. The Ghurids, a powerful dynasty from 12th-13th century Afghanistan and northern India, were celebrated patrons of arts and architecture, and Sa'di's poetry often wove tales of moral wisdom, kingship, and human devotion, making this image a vivid complement to his...