Laila and Majnun from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
The renowned calligrapher Ja'far was the head of the royal workshop at the Timurid capital of Herat under the patronage of Prince Baisunghur, son of the ruler Shah Rukh and grandson of Timur, the dynasty's founder. The manuscript contains a dedication to Baisunghur and is signed and dated by Ja'far. Laila wa Majnun, written in 1188, is the third of the romantic epics of the Khamsa (Quintet) by one of the greatest and most influential of all Persian poets. It is the story of the love of two children in the Arabian desert and the heart-rending results of their forced separation: Majnun wanders through the desert singing of his love and longing, as the mystic longs for the union with God.
Artwork Details
- Title: Laila and Majnun from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
- Calligrapher: Ja'far Baisunghuri (Iranian, active Herat, first half 15th century)
- Author: Nizami (present-day Azerbaijan, Ganja 1141–1209 Ganja)
- Date: dated 835 AH/1431–32 CE
- Geography: Made in present-day Afghanistan, Herat
- Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; Mughal binding, probably of the 17th century, painted and lacquered
- Dimensions: H. 12 5/16 in. (31.3 cm)
W. 9 in. (22.9 cm) - Classification: Codices
- Credit Line: Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1994
- Object Number: 1994.232.1
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Ja'far Baisunghuri
Nizami
835 AH/1431–32 CE
Ja'far Baisunghuri
Nizami
dated 835 AH/1431–32 CE
Ja'far Baisunghuri
Nizami
835 AH/1431–32 CE
Multiple artists/makers
931 AH/1524–25 CE
early 16th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.