The lion king pardons the jackal Farisah, from Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi

Khem Khurd

The lion king pardons the jackal Farisah, 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. Having rashly accused his minister the jackal Farisah of stealing his meat, the lion king reviews his case on the advice of his mother. He realises his error, and pardons the jackal at an assembly of all the animals at court. 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, Persian text in nasta`liq script, painting (on verso), from partial copy of Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi (d.1504-5), painting inscribed Khem Kurd, margin note dated 24 Bahman (no year), Agra, India, c. 1595-1600