SHIRIN VISITING FARHAD AT MOUNT BISOTUN Iran, late 15th century Opaque pigments, gold and black ink on paper, an illustration to a PersianKhosrow o Shirin manuscript from theKhamsa of Nizami Ganjavi, the text in the upper right cornerin four columns of black inknasta'liq,the painting portraying the Armenian princess Shirin on her horse Shabdiz, visiting the stone-carver Farhad, depicted on his knees in the action of offering a jar of milk to the princess, mount Bisotun lying behind him and characterised by the traditional purple rocks of Timurid school's paintings, mounted, framed and glazed, 16.2cm x 12.5cm the folio, 39cm x 30.5cm including the frame.