The monkey throws figs down to the wild boar, from Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi

Makra

The monkey throws figs down to the wild boar, 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 tale, a wild boar sees a monkey in a fig tree, and asks him to throw down some fruit, which the monkey does. After a time, the monkey refuses to continue - and the greedy boar becomes impatient. 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 Makra, Agra, India, c. 1595-1600.