Garsivaz prostrating himself before Siyavush in the presence of Rustam, from a Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi

Object Details

• Description

  Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian in black naskh script, heading in gold naskh outlined in black; recto: illustration and text, Garsivaz prostrating himself before Siyavush in the presence of Rustam, 6 columns, 31 lines; verso: unrelated text not following the recto, Capture of Shapur by Caesar, 6 columns, 31 lines; one of a group of 40: the manuscript (F1930.1) and 39 detached folios (F1929.25-46, F1930.2-17, F1940.13) are accessioned separately.

  Border: The painting and the text are set in red rulings on cream-colored paper.

• Provenance

  Possibly 1939-1940

  Hagop Kevorkian, New York, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1940

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

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of letter from Hagop Kevorkian to J. E. Lodge, dated March 8, 1940. Kevorkian wrote, “When I was at Washington I intended but omitted to tell you that, at my last trip abroad, I was fortunate enough to be on the spot when five pages (illustrated) of the first Shahnama which the Freer Gallery purchased from me, were offered for sale, I succeeded to purchase them.” See also in object file the March 9, 1940, response from Lodge to Kevorkian, “I shall, of course, be glad to see the additional pages of our Shāhnāmah.” See copy of March 28, 1939, letter from Kevorkian to Lodge. Kevorkian was overseas at the time (the letter is written on Continental-Savoy Cairo stationary), and he told Lodge, “I am now about to return to America via Syria,” also in object file. Additionally, see object file for copy of FGA vault record for Section K, Shelf 3, indicating the two folios were left at the Freer on May 15, 1940. The two folios are described as “2 Persian miniature paintings”.

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962) was an archaeologist, connoisseur, and one of the most significant dealers of the first half of the twentieth century. Kevorkian had eponymous galleries in New York and Paris, specializing in Islamic, Armenian, Ancient, and Classical art, where he sold works to galleries and private collectors around the world. In 1952 he established the Kevorkian Fund, which remains active and supports scholarship focusing on art history and archaeology, museum collections, lectures, and fellowships.

  [2] See object file for copy of H. Kevorkian invoice to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated July 3, 1940, and approved by Acting Secretary A. Wetmore on July 22, 1940.

  Research updated October 12, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

• 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

  1300s

• Name

  Kevorkian, Hagop

• Topic

  Art, Rustam, Arts of the Islamic World, Mongol period (1220 - 1380), Siyavush, Il-Khanid dynasty (1256 - 1353), Shahnama, Garsivaz, Epic literature

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts