Illustration from Maqamat of al-HaririBibliothèque nationale de France, manuscript Arabe 3929, 2nd quarter of 13th centuryFolio 151 Recto: maqama 18: Slave of Abu Zaydesclave d'Abû Zayd The painting depicts a beautiful slave-girl holding a mirror, and standing beside a (relatively tiny) tree. She is almost double the height of other illustrated figures in the manuscript. Grabar describes the image as "a unique representation of that paragon of beauty [...] totally different from any other woman shown in the Maqamat" (Grabar 1984 p.58). Previous: Abu Zayd attending the wedding banquet in Sinjar Next: Abu Zayd leaving the boat Back to Maqamat of al-Hariri, Bibliothèque nationale de France, manuscript Arabe 3929, 2nd quarter of 13th century |