*A MANUSCRIPT ILLUSTRATION FROM SA'DI'S BUSTAN PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION Iran, 15th - 16th century Opaque pigments and gold on paper, with a total of 14ll. of black ink n asta'liq script encased within clouds against a golden background with floral tendrils, the text an extract from the sixth chapter of the Bustan by Sa'di warning against greed and power-hunger, stressing the importance of contentment, the vertical manuscript illustration depicting a gruesome battle scene, the main warrior on the right slicing in half the opponent on the left, in the lower left corner a rider ready to shoot at the advancing army with the typical Parthian shot, decapitated heads and bleeding bodies strewn on the ground, the advancing army holding up two gold-embroidered flags surmounted by drop-shaped brass 'alams (processional standards), the battle illustrating a tale narrated in the sixth chapter of the Bustan , within blue and orange rules and with golden borders, mounted on a black and green-bordered cardboard album page, the back with an old inventory number and notes, 38.5cm x 27.2cm. (38.5cm x 27.2cm.)