Miniature is a french word and it refers to painting done in small size. The art became popular in Iranian art 100 years ago.Iranian manuscript called "Houghton's Shah nama" is piece of Iranian art which contained around 258 miniature painting out of which now only few are left. It is also called Shah Tahmasebi Shah nama. one of the miniature painting from this collection depicts Yusuf and Zulekha .

The miniature of Yusuf and Zulekha was created by Kamaledin Bahzad for Bustan of Saadi. this painting shows the most important part of the story in which Zulekha on the recommendation of her maid, orders the construction of a ladyrinth building and sets a trap for her husband "Yusuf".The miniature depicts the "seventh residence" where Zulekha is in pursuit of Yusuf, who in turn is trying to evade her. Zulekha, who is enchanted by the ecstasy of love and is struggling to grasp Yusuf's robe, is the only element in the miniature, wh is dressed in a cadmium yellow bed. She is completely distinct from the rest of the elements. These two colours are not used in any other part of the painting. Yusuf completely wearing green colour with a sacred gilt haloe around his head. According to the story by Jami, despite of the fact that Zulekha had locked all the seven residences, Yusuf miraculously managed to unlock all of the them and escape from Zulekha's temptation. zulekha had got all of the intricate building decorated with potraits of her own and Yusuf in order to seduce him, yet the building depicted in the miniature does not have any air of sensuality about it and on the contrary as a result of skillful composition of colours, it suggests a somber and sublime atmosphere. 

pic credit: Kamaledin Bahzad

info source:Contemporary Iranian Art and The Islamic World, Published by Al-Zahra University