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Layla and Majnun in the wilderness with animals, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi

Sanwalah

1595

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Mughal Painting Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Layla and Majnun in the wilderness with animals, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi is a 1595 unspecified by Sanwalah, a Mughal Painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Sanwalah
When & what style?: 1595 · Mughal Painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

You see two thin lovers sitting on pink rocks, surrounded by deer, lions, and rabbits in a bright, rocky desert. This painting tells a Persian love story, but with an Indian twist—the artist changed the setting to look like the hills of northern India. The wild animals aren’t just scenery; they’re drawn to the couple’s love, almost protecting them. To see more art like this, look up Indian art.

The story of this work

Overview

Nestled in the multicolored rocks are the reunited lovers Layla and Majnun, forced by society to remain separated for years. Majnun’s name means “madman,” since the separation drove him past the brink of sanity. Exiling himself to the wilderness, he became emaciated. When Layla found him after a prophetic dream, the wild animals gathered around, drawn to the purity and depth of their love. This painting illustrates a version of the story as told by an Indian author who wrote in Persian. He altered the ending given by previous Persian authors to the ancient Bedouin tale that originated among…