Gouache and ink heightened with gold on paper, 24 lines to the page written in naskhi script in black ink, headings in red, verso with 35 lines written in black and red naskhi script, margins ruled in red and blue, the painting depicting figures fighting with sword and bow on horseback upon a pale green hillside under a blue sky 

In good overall condition, some small repairs to the paper edges, light staining and some small areas of smudging, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This leaf originates from the famous illustrated copy of Hafiz-i Abru's Majma al-Tawarikh (Universal History). It was commissioned by the Timurid ruler Shahrukh and is a history of the world from its beginning to the middle of Shahrukh's reign (1405–1447), encompassing Biblical, Iranian, Islamic and Chinese history. The work was based on Rashid al-Din's Jami' al-Tawarikh, a universal history written for the Mongol ruler Ghazan. The aim of the work was to legitimize the ruling 🔥dynast꧂y by giving it a sound historical pedigree. The dispersed copy from which this leaf comes bears the library seal of Shahrukh himself, and was therefore presumably copied and illustrated under his instructions (Canby 1998, pp. 28-30).

Illustrated leaves from this manuscript are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Los Angeles ღCounty Museum of Art, The David Collection, Copenhagen, the collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddi♉n Aga Khan, the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Cleveland Museum of Art. A further leaf from this manuscript was sold in these rooms 8 October 2008, lot 37.