Monumental Mughal illumination with eight narrative paintings

Khusraw Dihlavi, Amir. Hasht Behesht [The Eight Heavens].

€ 75,000.00

A complete Mughal court manuscript of Amir Khosrow Dehlavi's "Hasht Behesht", produced to a high workshop standard and preserved in its original binding. The manuscript is fully illustrated and reflects the controlled production of an organised court atelier.

The poem, composed in 1301 CE, represents Amir Khosrow's conscious engagement with the Khamsa tradition established by Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209 CE). While retaining the narrative core of the Bahram Gur cycle, Hasht Behesht expands Nizami's seven pavilion structure into eight narrative divisions. This structural change allowed for a broader treatment of kingship, desire, ethical judgment, and responsibility, themes that align closely with Mughal court concerns.

The work's illumination programme is extensive and systematic, with sustained use of gold throughout. Illuminated openings alternate between dominant colour families including pinks, greens, reds, and grey blue tones, creating a measured visual progression across the manuscript. The work also contains eight full page paintings, each corresponding to one narrative section. These depict key episodes from the life of King Bahram Gur, including scenes with the seven princesses and the musician Delaram.

The paintings follow established Hasht Behesht iconography, functioning as a continuous narrative sequence rather than as isolated images. The final painting includes an explicit erotic embrace, a feature consistent with both the text and the visual tradition of Mughal courtly copies.

Taking all these elements together, the manuscript presents Hasht Behesht in a complete and coherent form, integrating text, illumination, and painting within a single, stable courtly production.