Dimna the imprisoned jackal visited by his brother Kalila, from Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi

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Dimna the imprisoned jackal visited by his brother Kalila, folio from Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli), a reworking of the animal fables Kalila and Dimna (Kalila wa Dimna), composed by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi. Dimna the jackal has been imprisoned for spreading false rumours about the ox, his rival courtier, who has since been executed. The lion king discovers his dishonesty and has him arrested and tried. This folio is from a copy of a highly-regarded Persian text, written by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi (d.1504-05), a preacher and scholar at the Timurid court in Herat (modern Afghanistan). His patron was Amir Shaykh Suhayli, whose last name is punningly inserted into the new title. Writing in a sophisticated court style, Kashifi composed an updated version of these lively animal fables, which have a long transmission history going back to Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit texts. This manuscript was made in Mughal India, and features 96 paintings (mounted separately). Detached folio, ink, gold and colours on paper, from partial copy of Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi (d.1504-5), Persian text with painting (on recto), Agra, India, c. 1595-1600