Leila wa Majnun,

A finely illustrated manuscript copy of the medieval tragic romance of Leila and Majnun, originally composed by Nizami Ganjavi (d. 1209) and present here in the recension of Maktabi Shirazi (d. 1520). The popularity of this romantic love story meant that over the years it was adapted by many renowned poets, including Amir Khusraw and Jami, and re-told in the native languages of the neighbouring regions of Turkey, Central Asia and India.

This manuscript was copied in the elegant scribal hand of Karam'ali and apparently dated 1054, although the distinct Qajar influences present strongly indicate that is erroneous and should read 1254, during the reign of Mohammad Shah Qajar. The illustrations are of notable quality, drawing heavily on the influences of Qajar portraiture popularised under the rule of Fath'Ali Shah Qajar in the early nineteenth century.

There are twenty-six illustrations in the text, depicting important scenes in the following order The birth of Layla
2. Layla and Majnun at school
3. Majnun in the cave
4. Majnun returns from the wilderness
5. Majnun with two bearded men in front of a cave
6. Majnun taken to the Ka'aba by his father
7. An encounter with Majnun
8. A suitor visits Layla's bedside
9. Layla and her companions in a garden
10. A meeting with Majnun and Naufal
11. An evening audience with Naufal
12. Battle of the tribes watched by Majnun
13. A huntsman encounters Majnun in chains in the wilderness
14. Layla and Ibn Salam in a chamber at night
15. Layla in her tent under Majnun's gaze
16. Majnun meets Layla's messenger
17. An encounter with Majnun under a tree
18. Majnun mourns his brother
19. Majnun surrounded by animals in the wilderness
20. The reunion of Layla and Majnun
21. The burial of Majnun's mother
22. Majnun mourns his mother
23. Majnun watches Ibn Salam killed by wild animals
24. Night scene with Layla and Majnun
25. The death of Layla
26. Majnun dies on the grave of Layla