Folio from a manuscript of the Nuzhatnama-i `Ala'i (The `Ala'i Book of Pleasure) by Shahmardan b. Abi 'l-Khayr Razi

On both sides of this folio from a manuscript of the Nuzhatnama-i ala’i by Shahmardan, small illustrations of birds in summary landscape settings are embedded within the text, which is written in naskh script. On the recto, a swallow (khuttaf) perches on the edge of a fishpond. The verso features two paintings. Near the top, four gray birds perch on a low-branching tree or bush. According to the text, they represent sparrows (gunjishk). At the bottom, an unidentified bird (badanjanah) with a green head and long, curling tail faces left. Plants growing out from under clusters of rocks mark the ground, and small running clouds indicate the sky.