The Seduction of Yusuf (Bustan of Sa'di) — History & Facts
The 1488 painting The Seduction of Yusuf (Bustan of Sa'di) by Behzad illustrates a scene from the Persian poetic work Bustan by Sa'di, created in Herat. Executed in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, this folio is part of a manuscript now catalogued as Dar al-Kutub, Adab farisi 22, f. 52b.
The composition is a well-known example of Timurid miniature painting, produced during the height of Behzad's career. The image depicts the episode of Yusuf fleeing from Zulaikha, set within an elaborately decorated palace interior. The architecture is rendered with intricate geometric and floral tilework in blue, gold, and red, and the composition is constructed with multiple receding planes and staircases. Yusuf, dressed in green with a golden halo, is shown in motion, pursued by Zulaikha in red, who reaches out to restrain him.
The illumination is detailed and precise, with gold leaf highlighting architectural elements and Persian calligraphy framing the scene. This work was created in Herat in 1488, a period when Behzad was active at the Timurid court and recognized as one of the leading painters of his time. The manuscript to which this folio belongs was likely commissioned for a high-ranking patron, reflecting the sophistication of Persian book arts in the late fifteenth century. Today, this folio is held in the collection of Dar al-Kutub, Cairo, under the shelfmark Adab farisi 22.






