Lovers and beloveds: A composite of scenes from Persian, Urdu, and Sanskrit literaturec. 1735 · Study 2013.345

Context from the museum

The figure of Joseph, identified by his halo, sits in the center near the top of this painting of heroes and heroines of ten different Persian, Urdu, and Sanskrit romances. The depicted scene occurs after Joseph has been purchased by Zulaykha in Egypt. Zulaykha, wishing to show him off to her friends and acquaintances, invites them to her home where she supplies oranges and knives. When the women see Joseph, they all are so distracted by his divine beauty that they accidentally cut their hands while peeling their oranges, but remain mesmerized by his appearance. The dramatic scene in the center is from the Persian romance of Khusrau and Shirin, in which Farhad, a stonecutter who loved Shirin, threw himself to his death from a mountaintop after hearing news of Shirin’s death, falsely sent to him from his rival Khusrau. The emaciated Majnun is in the lower right corner. Every vignette has been identified with a tiny Persian inscription.

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

A detail to notice

Below the bearded poet Hafiz is the woman he loved; her name was Stick of Candy.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected painting measurement for Lovers and beloveds: A composite of scenes from Persian, Urdu, and Sanskrit literature is 29.6 cm wide and 41.2 cm high, equivalent to approximately 11.7 × 16.2 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.72:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.12 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 9.9% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 135.2 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 Lovers and beloveds: A composite of scenes from Persian, Urdu, and Sanskrit literature 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 gold on paper, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 29.6 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?