A LOOSE ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM JAMI’S KHERAD NAMA ISKANDARI, SECTION 15 OF THE HAFT AWRANG
Safavid Iran, 17th century

Pen and ink drawing on paper with delicate red and gold highlights, the vertical composition in the front depicting a princely hunt in a rocky landscape observed by a dervish, the prince identified by his gold-rimmed hat and aided by a red-turbaned companion shooting arrows at running gazelles, a courtier attacking lions with a sword, a young hunter pulling a white-tinted snow leopard by a thin rope, some saddle covers and bow cases in gold, some horse bits in red, hidden faces in the rocks, mountain goat, a fox, and rook, a small waterfall and stream, varieties of flora, fine clouds above, set within gold, black, and green rules, 18.8cm x 10.8cm; the reverse with 12ll. of Persian nasta’liq script, the poetry relating the conversation between Roman emperor Fliqoos and Aristotle as the emperor nears his death, set within blue, gold, black, and gold rules, in off-white mount, the text panel 11.2cm x 19.2cm, 31.7cm x 40.4cm including the mount.