"Laila and Majnun in School", Folio 129 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja

Art Historical Context

This exquisite folio from a 1524–25 Persian manuscript of Nizami’s Khamsa captures a tender moment from the beloved romance of Laila and Majnun. Created in the early Safavid period, the painting shows the young lovers as children seated together in a traditional schoolroom, surrounded by fellow students, books, and a teacher. Nizami’s twelfth-century poem recounts how this innocent encounter sparks their lifelong, tragic passion, and the scene beautifully translates the literary episode into visual poetry. Executed in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, the work exemplifies the refined techniques of Persian miniature painting. Delicate lines, jewel-like colors, and intricate architectural details create a harmonious composition that draws the viewer into the intimate classroom setting. The collaborative efforts of artists such as Sultan Muhammad Nur, Mahmud Muzahib, and Shaikh Zada reflect the courtly workshops that produced luxurious illuminated manuscripts for royal patrons. As part of a codex in the Metropolitan Museum’s Islamic Art collection, this folio highlights the deep integration of literature, calligraphy, and painting in Persian culture. Its gift by Alexander Smith Cochran in 1913 has allowed generations of visitors to appreciate how such manuscripts served both as storytelling vehicles and as objects of extraordinary artistic beauty.