Viper in a Rocky Garden from Manafi' al-Hayawan (On the Usefulness of Animals) of Ibn Bakhtishu' c. 1300

"Viper in a Rocky Garden" is an illustration from a 13th-century manuscript, *Manafi' al-Hayawan* (On the Usefulness of Animals), by the scholar Ibn Bakhtishu'. This exquisite miniature depicts a viper coiled around a rock in a garden, its scales meticulously rendered in shades of brown and gray. The vibrant colors and detailed naturalism of the painting highlight the Persian tradition of manuscript illumination during this era. The text surrounding the illustration in Arabic script provides information about the viper's characteristics and uses. This work exemplifies the integration of art and science in Islamic culture, as it combines a detailed depiction of nature with scientific knowledge.