Folio from a Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (d. 1020); recto: Rustam lifts Afrasiyab from the saddle; verso: text: Pishang's letter to Kay Qubad and his plea for reconciliation

Object Details

• Description

  Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian in black naskh script; recto: illustration and text, Rustam lifts Afrasiyab from the saddle, 6 columns, and 30 lines; verso: text, Pishang's letter to Kay Qubad and his plea for reconciliation, 6 columns, 30 lines; one of a group of 7 folios. Patron: Qiwam al-Dawla wa'l-Din.

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

• Label

  The most celebrated Persian folk hero in the Shahnama (Book of kings) is the legendary Rustam. Personifying physical strength, courage, and loyalty, Rustam is the ultimate defender of Iran's sovereignty, which was continually threatened by its eastern neighbors, the Turanians, such as Pilsam.

  As is characteristic of painting under the Inju dynasty (ca.1325-56), the illustration is highly stylized and inserted into the text like a window panel. The composition's vivid red backdrop is another distinctive feature of manuscript paintings associated with Inju style.

• Provenance

  To 1952

  Dikran G. Kelekian, Inc., New York to 1952 [1]

  From 1952

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Dikran G. Kelekian, Inc. in 1952 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See Freer Gallery or Art Purchase List after 1920, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Near Eastern Art (January 1, 1963 to August 18, 1967)

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Dikran G. Kelekian, Inc.

• Origin

  Shiraz, Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s

• Name

  Dikran G. Kelekian, Inc.

• Place

  Shiraz

• Topic

  Art, Kay Qubad, Rustam, Inju dynasty (1335 - 1357), Arts of the Islamic World, Mongol period (1220 - 1380), Shahnama, Epic literature

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians, Afrasiyabs

• Language

  Naskh script

• Object Type

  Manuscripts