id: 170796
accession number: 2013.301
share license status: CC0
url: https://clevelandart.org/art/2013.301
updated: 2022-01-04 17:57:13.644000
Layla and Majnun in the wilderness with animals, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi, c. 1590–1600. Attributed to Sanwalah (Indian, active c. 1580–1600). Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper; page: 24.9 x 16.8 cm (9 13/16 x 6 5/8 in.); painting: 18.6 x 16.2 cm (7 5/16 x 6 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection 2013.301
title: Layla and Majnun in the wilderness with animals, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi
title in original language:
series:
series in original language:
creation date: c. 1590–1600
creation date earliest: 1590
creation date latest: 1599
current location:
creditline: Gift in honor of Madeline Neves Clapp; Gift of Mrs. Henry White Cannon by exchange; Bequest of Louise T. Cooper; Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund; From the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection
copyright:
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culture: India, Mughal
technique: opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
collection: Indian Art - Mughal
type: Painting
find spot:
catalogue raisonne:
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CREATORS
* Sanwalah (Indian, active c. 1580–1600) - artist
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measurements: Page: 24.9 x 16.8 cm (9 13/16 x 6 5/8 in.); Painting: 18.6 x 16.2 cm (7 5/16 x 6 3/8 in.)
state of the work:
edition of the work:
support materials:
inscriptions:
inscription: Calligraphy of Persian sayings from the aphoristic meditations of Khwaja Abd-Allah Ansari (Persian, 1006–1089) in top and bottom borders, in nasta‘liq script:
What is “dervishness”? It is a little lump of fine purified soil with a sprinkling of a few drops of water: neither is the sole of the foot irritated by it, nor does the heel of the foot collect dust from it.
The work of the lowly . . .
translation:
remark:
inscription: Persian inscription at top right, in nasta‘liq script:
the meeting of Layla and Majnun, lover and beloved
translation:
remark:
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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
title: Art and Stories from Mughal India
opening date: 2016-07-31T04:00:00
Art and Stories from Mughal India. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (July 31-October 23, 2016).
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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS
* Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 245); December 31, 2013 - June 30, 2014.
The Cleveland Museum of Art (7/31/2016-10/23/2016); Art and Stories from Mughal India, cat. 18, p. 191.
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PROVENANCE
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fun fact:
White paint, prone to flaking, chipped off her face, revealing the underdrawing.
digital description:
wall description:
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 nomadic tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, in which Layla dies before the couple can be physically reunited.
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RELATED WORKS
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CITATIONS
Archives of Asian Art 64, no. 2 (2014): 226.
page number: 226
url:
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IMAGES
web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2013.301/2013.301_web.jpg
print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2013.301/2013.301_print.jpg
full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2013.301/2013.301_full.tif