Persian Epic Illustrations

Vivid folios from the Shahnama showcasing heroic tales like Bizhan battling boars and Zal meeting the Simurgh, featuring vibrant colors and intricate details in a narrative context.

A representation of a feral looking woman with flower bushes and bamboo, above it a block with old-Persian text. The leaf has been pasted on a yellowed leaf, Woman with bamboo and flowers., draughtsman: anonymous, Persia, 1400 - 1500, paper, brush, h 397 mm × w 320 mm, h 177 mm × w 175 mm
A representation of a feral looking woman with flower bushes and bamboo, above it a block with old-Persian text. The leaf has been pasted on a yellowed leaf, Woman with bamboo and flowers., draughtsman: anonymous, Persia, 1400 - 1500, paper, brush, h 397 mm × w 320 mm, h 177 mm × w 175 mm
30 assets in this story
4409-17419343
"Bizhan Slaughters the Wild Boars of Irman", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi. Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (935-1020). Dimensions: Painting: H. 1 5/8 in. (4.2 cm) W. 4 3/16 in. (10.7 cm)Page: H. 8 1/16 in. (20.5 cm) W. 5 5/16 in. (13.5 cm)Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm) W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm). Date: ca. 1330-40.The people of Irman (Armenia) complained to the shah about a plague of ferocious and destructive wild boars. Bizhan, an impetuous young hero, volunteered to rid the forest of them. Here, the artist has departed from the text of the poem by showing Bizhan on foot (forgetting, however, that the young man should not have facial hair), with the result of enhancing the danger and drama of the encounter. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
6145-29797063
"Zal in the Simurgh's Nest", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) ca. 1330-40 Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Left in the wilderness as a baby because his father Sam thought his white hair was an attribute of the devil, Zal was rescued by the Simurgh and taken to her nest on Mt. Elburz. Rumors eventually reached Sam, who came to reclaim his son and to thank the great bird. In spite of the damage to the lower right hand portion of this stepped composition, the painting is striking, with the youth crouched in his mountain home talking to his foster mother while his repentant father bows to the ground in homage and gratitude to the Simurgh. The hares in the composition emphasize the remoteness of the setting. Here, the Simurgh has not yet taken the pictorial form of the Chinese phoenix as it had by this time in the more prominent artistic centers.. "Zal in the Simurgh's Nest", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) 452627
6145-55950512
Egyptian thorn (amughaylân). Possibly a representation of the myrobalan (bân) discussed below it top; Balsam tree (balsân) bottom, f. 157. 1540 - 1545. Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muammad, approximately 1203-1283. text. Illuminations, Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection. Mountains, Birds, Animals, Manuscripts, Persian
4409-17405281
"Rustam Shoots Isfandiyar in the Eye", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings). Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (935-1020). Dimensions: Painting: 1 3/4 x 2 in. (4.4 x 5.1 cm). Date: ca. 1330-40. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
6145-55950634
A tent for the collection of vapors top; A lock that does not require a key, lying in a purple field with flowering plats bottom, f. 291. 1540 - 1545. Qazwīnī, Zakarīyā ibn Muammad, approximately 1203-1283. text. Illuminations, Manuscripts, Miniatures (Illuminations). Spencer Collection. Mountains, Birds, Animals, Manuscripts, Persian
4409-17393077
"Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin", Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami. Artist: Painting by Shaikh Zada. Author: Nizami (Ilyas Abu Muhammad Nizam al-Din of Ganja) (probably 1141-1217). Calligrapher: Sultan Muhammad Nur (ca. 1472-ca. 1536); Mahmud Muzahhib. Dimensions: Painting: H. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm) W. 5 1/16 in. (12.9 cm)Page: H. 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm) W. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm) W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm). Date: A.H. 931/A.D. 1524-25.In Nizami's tale of Khusrau and Shirin, the princess Shirin has an ardent admirer in the talented sculptor and stonemason, Farhad. When Shirin desires milk from a herd of goats that graze in a distant field, Farhad sets to work cutting a channel from the goats' mountain pastureland to a pool at the foot of Shirin's palace. In this painting, Shirin visits Farhad upon his completion of the pool. At the very top of the composition, a goat cavorts in its hillside home. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
6145-45398640
Arabic Manuscript, Illustrated with Miniatures of Various Formats unknown
6145-29068272
The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the forty-seventh night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Forty-seventh Night, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.); painting only: 4.8 x 10.2 cm (1 7/8 x 4 in.).
6145-55951630
The imprint of the foot of the Prophet, f. 70. 1872. text. Illuminations, illuminated manuscripts, Miniatures (Paintings). Spencer Collection
4443-21770504
A representation of a feral looking woman with flower bushes and bamboo, above it a block with old-Persian text. The leaf has been pasted on a yellowed leaf, Woman with bamboo and flowers., draughtsman: anonymous, Persia, 1400 - 1500, paper, brush, h 397 mm × w 320 mm, h 177 mm × w 175 mm
6145-54539600
Gurgîn kills Andarîmân.. 1616. Firdawsî. text. illuminated manuscripts, Illuminations, Manuscripts. Spencer Collection. Manuscripts, Persian
6145-55951878
Gustaham fights Lahhâk.. 1616. Firdawsî. text. illuminated manuscripts, Illuminations, Manuscripts. Spencer Collection. Manuscripts, Persian
6145-29067236
The wolf advises the lion to consult the cat, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fifteenth Night, c. 1560. Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556-1605). Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper; overall: 20.3 x 14 cm (8 x 5 1/2 in.); painting only: 6 x 10.3 cm (2 3/8 x 4 1/16 in.).
6145-59566864
Holy vast, c. 1525 - c. 1535 print paper engraving
4409-7767
MUSEO - LIBRO DE FABULAS DE "CALILA Y DIMNA" S XVII. Author: BIDPAI. Location: PALACIO TOPKAPI-BIBLIOTECA. ISTANBUL. TURQUIA.
4443-75461512
Common vincetoxicum (Vincetoxicum hirundinaria), asqlîfiyyâs, fol. 154v, Mîrzâ Bâqir (fl. 19th c.), 1889 - 1890, Tehran or Mashhad, 18.6 x 15 cm
1788-32854
Illuminated Persian manuscript, 17th Century.
4409-17552259
Double Title Page of a copy of the Shahnama of Firdausi. Iran; Shiraz. Date: 1545-1555. Dimensions: 28.6 x 34.7 cm (11 1/4 x 13 3/4 in.); Right Page: 29.1 x 17.8 cm (11 7/16 x 7 in.); Left Page: 28.9 x 18.4 cm (11 3/8 x 7 1/4 in.). Opaque watercolor and gold on paper. Origin: Iran. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA. Author: Islamic.
4409-17415537
"Jonah and the Whale", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories) of Hafiz-i Abru. Author: Hafiz-i Abru (d. 1430). Dimensions: H. 16 3/4 in. (42.5 cm)W. 13 1/8 in. (33.3 cm). Date: ca. 1425.Written by court historian Hafiz-i Abru and modelled after the Ilkhanid Jami' al-Tavarikh, the text of the Majma al-Tavarikh begins at the time of Adam and continues into the rule of Shah Rukh (r. 1405-47). In this scene, Jonah crouches in the foliage on the bank of a body of water, which was painted in silver and has since oxidized, making it appear dark grey in color. This manuscript, which was originally composed of 407 folios including 150 miniatures, remained intact until at least 1928. It had a leather binding, and its paintings were executed in three different styles. The Metropolitan Museum owns ten folios from the manuscript. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
1746-21105406
Two zodiacal constellations, Capricorn above and Aquarius below. From ëAjíib al-makhlqt wa-gharíib al-mawjdt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) by al-Qazwn (d. 1283/682). The copy was made in 1537/944, probably in western India.
4409-17382696
"Design on Each Side for Waterwheel Worked by Donkey Power", Folio from a Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by al-Jazari. Artist: Copy by Farrukh ibn `Abd al-Latif. Author: Badi' al-Zaman ibn al-Razzaz al-Jazari (1136-1206). Dimensions: H. 11 5/8 in. (29. 5 cm)W. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm)Mat size: H. 19 in. (48.3 cm) W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)Frame: H. 21 5/8 in. (54.9 cm) W. 16 3/4 in. (42.5 cm). Date: dated A.H. 715/ A.D. 1315. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA. Author: Copy by Farrukh ibn 'Abd al-Latif.
6145-51831463
Sample of Calligraphy in Persian Nasta'liq Script Ali Haravi. Sample of Calligraphy in Persian Nasta'liq Script, 16th century. Ink, opaque watercolors, and gold on paper, 8 13/16 x 5 1/4 in. (22.4 x 13.3 cm). In the first centuries after the advent of Islam, Arabic calligraphyalluding to the written word of Godwas one of the main characteristics distinguishing the art of Islam from that of the preceding Byzantines and Sasanians in the Near East. In sixteenth-century Iran, calligraphy was a highly revered art form, visible in the public sphere in architectural inscriptions and, in more private and exclusive circles, collected by the court and wealthy elite to be assembled and enjoyed in albums. Samples such as the one shown here were often embellished with stylized floral and leaf patterns rendered in colorful pigments and gilding, remounted into beautifully ornamented and gilded margin papers, and bound together in albums and anthologies of poetry. Calligraphy lessons comprised one
6145-51818886
Woman on a Terrace Indian. Woman on a Terrace, ca. 1775. Opaque watercolors and gold on paper, sheet: 13 3/4 x 8 5/8 in. (34.9 x 21.9 cm). Asian Art ca. 1775
4409-17401318
"The Birds and the Monkeys with the Glow Worm", Folio from a Kalila wa Dimna. Dimensions: 12.5 in. high 8.87 in. wide (31.8 cm high 22.6 cm wide). Date: 18th century. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
4409-48389
EL CORAN. Detalle del segundo 'sura' (capítulo) .
6145-55942199
Tasrîh-i Mansûrî The human body with descriptions of the muscular system, fol. 23. 1675. Mansur ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad, active 14th century. text. Manuscripts, Illuminations, illuminated manuscripts. Spencer Collection. Manuscripts, Persian, Anatomy , Early works to 1800
4409-17403737
"Prince Killing a Lion", Folio from the Davis Album. Calligrapher: Ali Reza. Dimensions: Page: H. 13 1/8 in. (33.3 cm)W. 8 9/16 in. (21.7 cm)Painting: H. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm)W. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm)W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm). Date: 17th century.This dramatic scene depicts a prince stabbing a wounded lion as his horse sinks its teeth into the lion's neck. On the basis of the tightly wound turban with a thick bulge in front and a fanned end with flowers on a gold ground the painting can be dated to the 1690's or early eighteenth century. A signature would have appeared in the faintly visible cartouche beneath the horse's belly but it has faded into illegibility. The style of the work with the lightly painted villages and mountains in the background recalls works of the 1690s signed by Muhammad Zaman. The bold nasta'liq calligraphy mounted above and below the painting is signed by 'Ali Riza 'Abbasi, the director of the library of Shah 'Abbas (r. 1587-1629). Museu
4409-17553438
Tomb Stone Tile. Iran; Kashan. Date: 1486. Dimensions: 36.9 x 24.7 x 3.2 cm (14 1/2 x 9 11/16 x 1 1/4 in.). Fritware with blue underglaze and luster-painted overglaze decoration. Origin: Iran. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA. Author: Islamic.
4409-17534228
Squatting figure. Draughtsman: anonymous. Dating: 1395 - 1405. Place: Persia. Measurements: h 153 mm × w 119 mm; h 105 mm × w 77 mm. Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
4409-17534249
Transfer of the embryo from Mahariva. Draughtsman: anonymous. Dating: 1460 - 1480. Place: Gujarat. Measurements: h 110 mm × w 75 mm; w 256 mm; w 201 mm. Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.