The king forgives his hungry chamberlain, from Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi

Anant

The king forgives his chamberlain, 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. In this chapter about acts of mercy, a king abruptly fires his palace chamberlain for no reason. Without employment, the desperate steward later returns to the palace and steals a gold dish. The king realises the theft has been committed out of hunger, and forgives the man, restoring him to his post at the 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 to Anant, Agra, India, c. 1595-1600