It's the Day for the Garden (painting, recto; text, verso), folio 173 from a manuscript of the Divan (Collection of Works) of Anvari

Mahesh

1588

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Arthur M. Sackler Museum

Two men work in a lush garden with a central water feature containing ducks. One man digs, while the other tends to flowering trees. The recto side of the folio features a painting depicting two figures tending to a garden. At the center of the painting is a large square fountain from which three water channels issue. Two text blocks containing Persian text written in nasta’liq script and black ink are at the top and bottom of the painting. The verso side of the folio features two columns of Persian text written in black ink and nasta’liq script. The folio belongs to an illustrated copy of the Divan of Anvari commissioned by the Mughal emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605) in 1588 and in Lahore. The poet Anvari (1126-1189) is considered one of the greatest figures in Pers