This folio illustration depicts a scene from a mystical poem Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds) that one of the most important illustrated manuscripts from Timurid Persia (around 1370–1507), written by the 12th-century Iranian poet Farid al-Din 'Attar. In this allegorical tale, the birds, symbolizing individual souls searching for the simurgh (a mystical bird representing ultimate spiritual unity), gather in a serene landscape to embark on their spiritual journey. They are led by a hoopoe, prominently perched on a rock at the center-right.
While the harmonious composition is characteristic of late 15th-century Timurid miniatures, several elements suggest that this image is from a later period. These include the presence of a hunter, absent from the original narrative, his firearm—a weapon that became widespread in Iran only after the mid-16th century—and the signature of Habiballah, a renowned artist from the late 16th to early 17th century.
Please take a moment and look at all the details and elements. Beautiful, aren't they?
P.S. If you like birds and animals, please check out our Animals in Art - 50 Postcards Set! :)
P.P.S. Discover the beautiful world of Persian miniatures through the art of Kamal al-din Bihzad.