The Fate of the Shepherd who Diluted his Milk, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Amir Khusraw Dihlavi
Artist/Culture
Persian
(Seljuk, 1000–1199)
Date1500–1525
Mediumwatercolor, gold metallic paint, and ink on paper
Dimensionsimage: 15.7 x 12.4 cm (6 3/16 x 4 7/8 in.)
ClassificationsNon-Western Miniatures
Credit LineBequest of Alexander H. Bullock
Object number1962.181
Descriptioncalligraphy on reverseLabel TextThis is a page removed from a fragmentary copy of the Khamsa of Amir Khusraw Dihlavi, illustrating one of the moral precepts from the first of the five poemsin the Khamsa. An example of early Safavid painting at Tabriz, is is influencedby the style of Bihzad. A shepherd had a flock on the mountainside, and young and old alike got thier milk from him. But the milk was not pure-- he had diluted it for profit. One day, a flood came and washed his goats away. In his grief he complained to a wise old man who replied , "all that water you added to the milk became a flood and carried off your flock!"ProvenanceAlexander H. Bullock, Worcester MA
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