Illuminated Leaf

Unknown

16th century · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper · Islamic Art

This fully illuminated page depicts a landscape of monkeys, birds, hares and a lion painted in gold with blue detailing on a plain ground. The reverse bears a qasida, or ode, by Jami about the mysteries of the letters of the bismallah. The text is arranged in two columns of calligraphy bordered by three bands of floral motifs, and the kufic text of the heading reads “and blessing upon him Muhammad and his family”.

Artist

Unknown

Date

16th century

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1952