Resaleh Fors Nameh Mossavvar Manuscript of Anatomy of a Horse C18th / C19th Persia, 18th/19th Century

Resaleh Fors Nameh Mossavvar  Manuscript of Anatomy of a Horse C18th / C19th

Persia, 18th/19th Century

21cm x 14mm

Ink, watercolour and gouache on paper. 82pp with 20 watercolour illustrations of horses. Some pages with marginal repairs. Text in manuscript in Farsi. Some marginal annotations.

Bound in full blind-stamped leather with 3 lozenges to front and rear boards.

An illustrated Persian manuscript dedicated to the anatomy, classification, and treatment of horses, written in elegant black and red nastaʿlīq script on cream-toned paper. This work, known as Resaleh Fors Nameh Mossavvar, is richly complemented by multiple miniature watercolour illustrations of various horse types, breeds, and coats, reflecting equine taxonomy as understood in Qajar-era veterinary science.

The manuscript opens with textual sections outlining anatomical structure, traditional Persian veterinary care, and the symbolism of certain horse colours. Subsequent folios are adorned with naturalistic renderings of horses in side profile, identified with Persian captions. These detailed paintings suggest both artistic refinement and practical knowledge, likely intended for use by a noble stablemaster or in a royal court.

The illustrated leaf shown here depicts two breeds of horses with striking coat patterns: one with chestnut patches on white, and the other bearing black dappled markings on a grey body. The delicacy of linework and careful application of pigment reflect a mature manuscript tradition in Qajar Persia.

Horse-related manuscripts formed an important genre of applied scientific literature in Persian culture. This piece belongs to a tradition that blended artistry with empirical observation, reflecting the elevated role of horses in military, ceremonial, and agricultural life. The care with which each horse is named and depicted suggests not only a taxonomic purpose but also an element of reverence for the animal’s place in Persian royal and chivalric culture.