Artwork

Illuminated page (verso), from a Panj Ganj (Five Treasures) of Abd al- Rahman Jami (Persian, 1414–1492) with two Persian masnavis: Yusuf va Zulaykha (Joseph and Zulaykha) and Khirad-nama-i Iskandari (Alexander’s Book of Wisdom)

Illuminated page (verso), from a Panj Ganj (Five Treasures) of Abd al- Rahman Jami (Persian, 1414–1492) with two Persian masnavis: Yusuf va Zulaykha (Joseph and Zulaykha) and Khirad-nama-i Iskandari (Alexander’s Book of Wisdom) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1605 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

History & Provenance

This illuminated page, created in 1605, originates from a manuscript containing the Panj Ganj (Five Treasures) by the Persian poet Abd al-Rahman Jami.

This illuminated page, created in 1605, originates from a manuscript containing the Panj Ganj (Five Treasures) by the Persian poet Abd al-Rahman Jami. The work includes illustrations for two specific masnavis: Yusuf va Zulaykha and Khirad-nama-i Iskandari. While the primary artist is listed as unknown, the piece is attributed to the Indian painter Mushfiq and his associates. The manuscript was produced during the early 17th century, specifically dated to the year 1605.

The illuminated page from the verso of a Panj Ganj manuscript by Abd al-Rahman Jami is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It is accessioned under the identifier 2013.315.1.b. The work was displayed in the museum’s 2013 exhibition titled "India and the Islamic World: Art, Architecture, and Trade".

Context

The verso of an illuminated page from the Panj Ganj, a 15th‑century Persian poetic anthology, bears two masnavis by Jami and was produced in 1605. Scholarship situates this work within the broader tradition of Safavid‑era Persian manuscript illumination, noting its stylistic affinities with contemporary Indian court workshops while emphasizing the rarity of surviving Jami‑related illustrations from that period. The attribution to an anonymous artist reflects the collaborative nature of manuscript production in early modern India, where painters often contributed to multi‑author projects without individual credit.

Its inclusion in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection underscores its significance as a key example of cross‑cultural artistic exchange in the Indian subcontinent.

Overview

This illuminated folio belongs to a Panj Ganj, a manuscript that compiles two Persian masnavis: the love story of Yusuf and Zulaykha and the philosophical narrative Khirad‑nama‑i Iskandari. Executed in the late 15th‑century Persian tradition, the page combines calligraphic text with elaborate decorative elements, reflecting the high status of the volume.

Subject & Meaning

The two poems presented in the manuscript explore themes of divine love and moral wisdom. Yusuf and Zulaykha recount the biblical Joseph’s encounter with the seductive queen, while the Alexander text offers reflections on governance and knowledge, both serving as moral exemplars for the reader.

Technique & Style

The page features a flowing Nastaʿlīq script, with selected passages highlighted in gold ink. A striking blue and gold border crowns the top, populated by interlacing floral motifs and geometric patterns typical of Timurid manuscript decoration. The intricate gilding and vivid pigments underscore the manuscript’s luxury.

Page from a Panj Ganj (Five Treasures) of Abd al-Rahman Jami (Persian, 1414–1492), with two Persian masnavis: Yusuf va Zulaykha (Joseph and Zulaykha) and Subhat al-abrar (Rosary of the Righteous) (verso)

Artist & collection

Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

Continue through works from the same source collection.