"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds) 1575 - 1625

This folio from a manuscript of *Mantiq al-Tayr* (Language of the Birds), a 12th-century Sufi allegorical poem by Farid ud-Din Attar, illustrates the "Concourse of the Birds" with a detailed depiction of a wide variety of avian species. The painting, by the Safavid artist Habiballah of Sava, showcases the vibrant colors and detailed depictions characteristic of Persian miniature painting. This illuminated manuscript was likely commissioned by a patron who appreciated both the beauty of visual art and the spiritual messages conveyed by Sufi poetry.