Khusrau and Shirin meet on the hunting grounds

Khusrau and Shirin meet on the hunting grounds is an Indian painting by Nanha taken from a manuscript of the Khamsa of Nizami copied by Abd ar-Rahim in the 16th century.

This manuscript by Abd ar-Rahim of the Khamsa by Nizami, with miniatures done by Akbar’s most famous artists is considered to be “the most wonderful Indian manuscript in Europe”.

Nizami’s Khamsa (quintet) comprises five long poems in epic meter, two of which celebrate the classic love stories of Khusrau and Shirin and Layla and Majnun. Khusrau, the crown prince of Iran and Shirin, Queen of Armenia fell in love with each other by reputation. After many delays caused by misunderstandings, their first meeting confirmed their love for each other and Khusrau spent many months in Shirin’s company. In this miniature, Nanha depicts an accidental meeting between the two lovers on the hunting field, accompanied by their retainers. The art of miniature painting in India reached its zenith during the Mughal period.