Anvar-i Suhayli of al-Kashifi

Of the many versions of the Kalila wa Dimna, al-Kashifi's is the only one to include the story illustrated here. A gardener befriended a bear who killed him with a stone as he tried to swat the flies on the sleeping man's face.

Detached manuscript page from an Anvar-i Suhayli of al-Kashifi. The bear in reward for the man's kindness to him seeks to kill a fly on his face with a stone. Illustration depicts a bear who has thrown a stone on top of a man's face, killing him as he lays across the ground. Two trees, a hilly landscape, and minimal folliage appear as background. Four full lines of text appear on the bottom of illustration, and four and a quarter on top. Opaque watercolours and ink on paper.

Made in Iran
16th Century
Khurasan Type
Safavid dynasty

Source: