"Alexander Visits the Sage Plato in his Mountain Cave", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi

Basawan|Amir Khusrau Dihlavi

1597–98 · Main support: Ink, opaque watercolor, gold on paper Margins: Gold on dyed paper · Islamic Art

The Khamsa of the Indian poet Amir Khusrau includes a section on the philosopher-king Alexander the Great, who in Khusrau’s telling of his life led expeditions to China, Russia, and the Western Isles, and also undertook quests of a spiritual dimension. Here, the turbaned king is seated on the right, listening to the sage Plato, who offers advice on rulership but also warns of Alexander’s impending death.

Artist

Basawan|Amir Khusrau Dihlavi

Date

1597–98

Medium

Main support: Ink, opaque watercolor, gold on paper Margins: Gold on dyed paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Alexander Smith Cochran, 1913