Folio from a Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (died 1020); recto: text and illustration: Rustam slays Ashkbus and his horse; verso: text

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian in black naskh script; marginal writings in nasta’liq; heading in red; recto: illustration and text, Rustam slays Ashkbus and his horse, 4 columns, 21 lines; verso: text, 4 columns, 33 lines; one of a group of 7 folios.

Historical period(s)
Il-Khanid dynasty, Mongol period, ca. 1350
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 8.3 x 15.2 cm (3 1/4 x 6 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1944.56
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Manuscript folio

Keywords
epic, hero, horse, Iran, Mongol period (1220 - 1380), Piran, Rustam
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Detached folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; text: Persian in black naskh script; marginal writings in nasta'liq; heading in red; recto: illustration and text, Rustam slays Ashkbus and his horse, 4 columns, 21 lines; verso: text, 4 columns, 33 lines; one of a group of 7 folios.

Published References
  • A.R. Nykl. A Horoscope of Ali ibn Abi Talib. vol. X Ann Arbor, 1944. pls. 152-153.
  • Hagop Kevorkian. Kevorkian 1944 Letter File. .
  • M.S. Dimand. A Guide to an Exhibition of Islamic Miniature Painting and Book Illumination. Exh. cat. New York and Portland, Maine, October 9-January 7, 1933-1934. fig. 9.
  • Philipp Walter Schulz. Die Persisch-Islamische Miniaturmalerei: Ein Beitrag zur Kunstgeschichte Irans. 2 vols, Leipzig. vol. 1: pl. L, 2.
  • M.S. Dimand. A Handbook of Muhammadan Art. Human Relations Area Files, 2nd rev. ed. New York. fig. 14.
  • William Lillys, Robert Reiff, Emel Esin. Oriental Miniatures: Persian, Indian, Turkish., 1st ed. Rutland, Vermont. p. 27, pl. 4.
  • Eric Schroeder. Persian Miniatures in the Fogg Museum of Art. Cambridge, Massachusetts. pp. 29-34, pl. II.
  • Laurence Binyon, J.V.S. Wilkinson, Basil Gray. Persian Miniature Painting: A Descriptive Catalogue of the Miniatures Exhibited at Burlington House, January-March 1931. Exh. cat. Oxford, January - March 1931. cat. 22, p. 47.
  • Dr. Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. Early Arabic and Persian Paintings. vol. XXI Boston. p. 50.
  • FIrdausi, Jules Mohl. Le livre des rois: Manuscrits ine´dits de la Bibliotheque Royale 3. Collection Orientale Paris. pp. 120, 124,130.
  • FIrdausi. The Shahnama of Firdausi. vol. III, London. pp. 180,182,185.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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