Khusraw at the castle of Shirin, from a manuscript of the Khusraw and Shirin by Nizami (d.1209), recto: illustration: Khusraw at the castle of Shirin; verso: text

Object Details

• Calligrapher

  Ali ibn Hasan al-Sultani

• Description

  Detached folio from the Khusraw u Shirin by Nizami; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script with headings in white and gold; recto: illustration: Khusraw at the castle of Shirin; verso: text, 4 columns, 25 lines; one of a group of 7 detached folios (F1931-37) from the manuscript (F1931.29) and the book binding (F 1931.30); accessioned separately.

  Binding: The painting and the text are set in gold, green and blue rulings on gold-sprinkled paper.

• Label

  The Khamsa, or Quintet, by Nizami ranks among the great masterpieces of Persian literature. The romance of Khosraw and Shirin, one of the five poems that constitute the Khamsa, narrates the adventures of the Sasanian king Khusraw Parviz and the Armenian princess Shirin. Attributed to the early fifteenth century, the Freer Khamsa is one of the earliest known illustrated copies of this work.

  Khosraw at the Gate of Shirin's Castle is among the most poignantly expressive manuscript paintings of the fifteenth century. Displeased with Khosraw's behavior and his marriage to another woman, Shirin has withdrawn to her castle. Following the death of his queen, Khosraw repeatedly attempts to see Shirin, who finally yields to his request. Shielded by the royal umbrella and standing on precious brocades and carpets, the king gestures in supplication toward Shirin, who gazes down from a window in her castle. Although the text specifies that Khosraw visited Shirin at dawn in the dead of winter, the artist has situated the reconciliation in a lush garden setting softly illuminated by a waning moon.

  The elegant, mustachioed Khosraw in these paintings bears a striking resemblance to known depictions of the Timurid patron Baysunghur Mirza (1399-1434).

• Provenance

  To 1931

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962), New York to 1931 [1]

  From 1931

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Hagop Kevorkian, New York in 1931 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Object file, undated folder sheet note. See also Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  East of Eden: Gardens in Asian Art (February 24 to May 13, 2007)

  Love and Yearning: Mystical and Moral Themes in Persian Painting (August 30, 2003 to February 22, 2004)

  From the Hand of Mani (January 18, 1985 to July 5, 1985)

  Art of the Near East (August 21, 1977 to December 14, 1979)

  Near Eastern Art (June 15, 1973 to May 7, 1975)

  2500 Years of Persian Art—Paintings, Pottery (February 10, 1972 to June 15, 1973)

  Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Pottery (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)

  Near Eastern Art (June 5, 1964 to August 18, 1967)

  Special Exhibition (February 9, 1954 to April 20, 1954)

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

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian Manuscripts (May 5, 1933 to September 22, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

• Origin

  Tabriz, 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

  1400s, 1300s

• Name

  Kevorkian, Hagop

• Place

  Tabriz

• Topic

  Art, Night, Jalayirid dynasty (1340 - 1432), Arts of the Islamic World, Castles, Gardens, Shirin, Khusraw

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Language

  Nasta?li-q script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts