Folio from a Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (d.1020); recto: The siege of Turanian stronghold by the forces of Kay Khusraw; verso: text, Afrasiyab escapes from the ruined stronghold

Object Details

• Description

  Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script; recto: illustration and text: The siege of Turanian stronghold by the forces of Kay Khusraw; verso: text: Afrasiyab escapes from the ruined stronghold, 4 columns, 25 lines; one of a group of 3 folios.

  Border: The painting is set in blue, gold, and black rulings on cream-colored paper; the text is set in gold and black rulings on cream-colored paper.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 6 and 7 (February 25, 1956 to April 10, 1962)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, Pottery, Metalwork, and Glass (April 12, 1955 to November 21, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Arts, 1947 (October 6, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts (May 1, 1945 to September 25, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian Paintings and Ceramics (May 5, 1933 to January 9, 1945)

  Untitled Exhibition, Shahnama and Chinese Art (March 24, 1930 to May 5, 1933)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Asian and Persian Art (March 24, 1930 to March 14, 1931)

  Near Eastern Pottery and Persian Painting (May 2, 1923 to March 14, 1931)

• Origin

  Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1500s, 1400s

• Topic

  Wars, Art, Turkmen period (1378 - 1508), Kay Khusraw, Arts of the Islamic World, Shahnama, Epic literature

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians, Afrasiyabs

• Language

  Nasta?li-q script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts