Pir Budaq and his court. Frontispiece from a copy of Kalila wa Dimna of Abu’l-Ma‘ali Nasr Allah. Baghdad (possibly), c. 1465. Tehran, Gulistan Palace Library, no. 827 (vertical det

Frontispiece from a copy of Kalila wa Dimna of Abu’l-Ma‘ali Nasr Allah. Baghdad (possibly), c. 1465. Tehran, Gulistan Palace Library, no. 827 (color vertical) "The manuscripts commissioned by Pir Budaq, especially between 1460 and 1466 when he was governor of Baghdad, bear the undeniable influence of Baysunghur’s library. In fact, they make up for the missing link between early and late Timurid manuscripts. A copy of Kalila wa Dimna today kept in Tehran and attributed to Qara Qoyunlu Baghdad draws on the style of Baysunghur’s books while announcing the frontispiece of the Cairo Bustan (Figure 1.3). The ruler appears in the right folio surrounded by courtiers in a festive gathering. A row of trees on a golden sky topped by swirling clouds constitutes the background to the picture. Important changes have also occurred. An outdoor terrace has replaced the flowering backdrop of Baysunghur’s frontispieces. The Cairo Bustan uses a similar setting, although in a reversed order. We recognise the stone wall framing the ruler’s space and the open fence used for the other terrace. Also anticipating Sultan Husayn’s page is the depiction of a broader scope of activities. Independent scenes inc