SULTANATE INDIA, 15TH CENTURY

Although the folios from this dispersed manuscript have always been catalogued as the Khusrawnama it is more likely that the manuscript from which they came was a compendium of poetry of ‘Attar Nishapuri (d. circa 1221). The previous lot and the painting here of Khusraw and the daughter of the Zangi are illustrations from the Khusrawnama. However, the painting of the Prophet Muhammad in conversation is from the Asrarnama. Unlike the Khusrawnama which is a narrative epic poem, the Asrarnama contains brief anecdotes to reflect on the transience of existence and the vanity of material things. Another illustration from the same Asrarnama was sold in these Rooms, 27 April 2023, lot 58.