"Purple Amaranth and Watermelon", Folio from a Dispersed Nuzhatnama-i ‘Ala’i of Shahmardan ibn Abi’l Khayr 1400 - 1425

"Purple Amaranth and Watermelon" is a folio from a dispersed Nuzhatnama-i ‘Ala’i by Shahmardan ibn Abi’l Khayr, created between 1400 and 1425. This exquisite illuminated manuscript, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, showcases the intricate detail and vibrant colors characteristic of Persian miniature painting. The image depicts a delicate arrangement of purple amaranth flowers and a trailing watermelon vine, rendered with meticulous brushstrokes against a soft parchment background. The artwork is a testament to the flourishing artistic culture of 15th-century Persia, blending botanical accuracy with a captivating aesthetic appeal.