A LOOSE ILLUSTRATED FOLIO OF YUSUF AND ZULEYKHA IN A GARDEN
Possibly Delhi, Northern India, 20th century

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting a courtly gathering in a lush garden, the two main characters in the centre of the scene identified by the Arabic caption at the top as the Prophet Josef (Yusuf) and Zuleykha (the wife of Potiphar), the haloed young Prophet shown kneeling in front of Zuleykha and offering her a drink, her female attendants depicted whispering in each other’s ears on the right, the scene set within concentric decorative borders typical of Indian albums, the outer border inspired by Persian muraqqa’ borders with stylised mythological animals, 43cm x 30cm.

Opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting a courtly gathering in a lush garden, the two main characters in the centre of the scene identified by the Arabic caption at the top as the Prophet Josef (Yusuf) and Zuleykha (the wife of Potiphar), the haloed young Prophet shown kneeling in front of Zuleykha and offering her a drink, her female attendants depicted whispering in each other’s ears on the right, the scene set within concentric decorative borders typical of Indian albums, the outer border inspired by Persian muraqqa’ borders with stylised mythological animals, 43cm x 30cm.

Dimensions: 43cm x 30cm