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"A Ruffian Spares the Life of a Poor Man", Folio 4v from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)

Author Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian
ca. 1600
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455
This painting once formed part of a rare surviving illustrated copy of Farid al-Din 'Attar’s mystical poem, the Mantiq al-tair (Language of the Birds). Originally commissioned in the late fifteenth century, the manuscript was left unfinished, completed over a century later during the reign of the Safavid ruler Shah 'Abbas I (r. 1587–1629). Four new paintings were added at that time, including this seventeenth century illustration for the story of a ruffian who spares the life of a poor man.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "A Ruffian Spares the Life of a Poor Man", Folio 4v from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
  • Author: Farid al-Din `Attar (Iranian, Nishapur ca. 1142–ca. 1220 Nishapur)
  • Date: ca. 1600
  • Geography: Made in Iran, Isfahan
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Painting: H. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm)
    W. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
    Page: H. 12 7/8 in. (32.7 cm)
    W. 8 5/16 in. (21.1 cm)
    Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm)
    W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1963
  • Object Number: 63.210.4
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Binding and Text-Block for the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Binding: Leather, gold, and color; carved, impressed, and gilded<br/>Text-block: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Binding and Text-Block for the Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
ca. 1600
Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Binding: doublure
Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
ca. 1600
Page of Calligraphy from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Page of Calligraphy from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
dated 892 AH/1486 CE
"Allusion to Sura 27:16", Folio from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Allusion to Sura 27:16", Folio from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
dated 892 AH/1486 CE
"Shaikh Mahneh and the Villager", Folio 49r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
"Shaikh Mahneh and the Villager", Folio 49r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Farid al-Din `Attar
1487

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