DELHI SCHOOL, NORTH INDIA, CIRCA 1860

The scene depicted in this painting is from Layla and Majnun, the 7th century Arab tale of doomed love on which the well-known 12th century medieval Persian narrative poem by Nizami Ganjavi was based. It later became a frequently illustrated text in Persia and India. Majnun, driven to madness by his love for Layla, is often depicted as an emaciated ascetic. Overcome with love for his beloved, here he is depicted kissing the paws of a dog which had belonged to Layla for several years.