Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) by Amir Khusraw Dihlavi (d. 1325); The abduction by sea

Lyrical poems were among the most popular illustrated texts at the court of Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara (reigned 1470-1506). This illustration belongs to a copy of Amir Khusraw Dihlavi's popular Khamsa (Quintet), a set of poems commissioned by Sultan Husayn Mirza's son, Sultan Muhammad Muhsin Bahadur Khan (died 1507). Its subtle coloring and fine drawing echo the romantic mood of the story, which describes the abduction of a king's favorite female attendant by her lover. A large expanse of water, originally painted silver and now tarnished to black, dominates the composition. The psychological interaction of the figures, shown in various poses, is characteristic of the style associated with Bihzad and his circle.

One of the most celebrated painters at the court of Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara (reigned 1470-1506) was Kamal-uddin Bihzad (circa 1467-1535). Orphaned at a young age, Bihzad was reared and trained by Aqa Mirak, another renowned painter in Herat. Towards the end of his life, Bizhad, who became known as the "rarity of his time," moved to Tabriz in northwestern Iran, where he died in 1535. Bihzad and his contemporaries are largely accredited with introducing a new sense of naturalism into Timurid painting. In addition to refining the spatial clarity and ornamental elaboration of earlier fifteenth-century painting, Bihzad incorporated lively scenes from everyday life into his compositions. His carefully delineated figures show considerable psychological depth and seem to occupy real space. These new conventions, however, should not be confused with the interest in naturalism found in Western painting, for Bihzad and his fellow artists still worked within the strict conventions of traditional Persian painting.