An East African King Receives Three Emissaries, from a Khamsa of Amir Khusrau Dihlavic. 1450 · Study 1963.261

Context from the museum

The text on this page discusses the wars between Morocco and Zang, a region of eastern Africa centered in present-day Ethiopia. In the painting the King of Zang meets three envoys. The dramatic gesture of the Zangi king, who stretches out one hand as he takes an enormous stride toward the envoys, identifies him as a powerful, assertive figure. This page is from the first known manuscript of a Persian literary text illustrated by an Indian artist, who had probably been trained in the Jain manuscript tradition. The figures are arranged on one plane in a straight line against a flat red background, typical of manuscript painting in India in the 1400s.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected overall measurement for An East African King Receives Three Emissaries, from a Khamsa of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi is 21.6 cm wide and 28.6 cm high, equivalent to approximately 8.5 × 11.3 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.76:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.06 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 7.2% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 139.2 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With An East African King Receives Three Emissaries, from a Khamsa of Amir Khusrau Dihlavi in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, gum tempera and ink on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 21.6 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?