Majnun brought to Layla's camp in chains by a beggar woman, after an illustration in Shah Tahmasp's manuscript of Nizami's Khamsa, by a follower of Haj Mirza Aqa Imami (1880-1955),, Iran, 20th Century

gouache on card, five panels at top containing text in naskhi and nasta'liq script, profusely decorated wide outer border, in a contemporary Chinese-style frame
395 x 273 mm.; with frame 52 x 41 cm.

A close copy of the original by Mir Sayyid 'Ali in the British Library (Or. 2265, fol. 157v), from the Khamsa of Nizami produced for Shah Tahmasp.

The title heading reads: avardan-e majnun pish-e layla, 'Majnun is brought to Layla'. The couplets are from Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi's Mathnavi (Book 5), which refers to ignorant people saying that Majnun is stupid to be in love with Layla, that there are many more beautiful girls in town.

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