Kay Kavus Seated on the Eagle-powered Throne (text recto; painting verso of folio 91), Illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi
ManuscriptsIndian17th-18th century

Kay Kavus Seated on the Eagle-powered Throne (text recto; painting verso of folio 91), Illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

17th-18th century

Description

This manuscript is the first volume of a two-volume Shahnama by Firdawsi with further Shahnama inspired interpolated texts from the Garshaspnama and the Barzunama. The manuscript has 325 folios and is copied in nastaliq script. There are two illuminated panels at the beginning of the prose and poetry sections of the Shahnama. There are 34 illustrations that appear to have been painted when the manuscript was copied and 26 simple style illustrations that can be dated to a later phase. Overall, based on the style of the illustrations, illumination, and the interpolated texts, the creation of the manuscript can be attributed to the late 17th-early 18th century in Kashmir, the northern region of India under Mughal control. Later in the 19th century, the incomplete manuscript was furnished with simple style illustrations and possibly with a new illuminated panel at the beginning of the text.

Classification
Manuscripts
Medium
Ink, colors, and gold on paper
Culture
Indian
Period
Mughal period
Century
17th-18th century
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Department
Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

36.8 x 23.5 cm (14 1/2 x 9 1/4 in.)

Provenance

George McFadden, New York, (by 1987-1988), sold; to José M.Soriano, New York, (1988-2014), gift; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2014.

Related Artworks

View More
Weapons and Ways of Attack and Defense, 2nd of 4 Volumes
Manuscripts
Weapons and Ways of Attack and Defense, 2nd of 4 Volumes
Unknown Artist, Late Edo period, 1853

Thread-bound woodblock-printed books; ink on paper

19th centuryJapanese
Text folio, text folio with a heading in gold (text recto, text with gold verso of folio 32) from a manuscript of Subhat al-abrar by Jami
Manuscripts
Text folio, text folio with a heading in gold (text recto, text with gold verso of folio 32) from a manuscript of Subhat al-abrar by Jami
Unknown Artist, c. 1530-70

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

16th century
Double page: The Trial by Fire of Siyavush (painting, verso; text, recto), left-hand side of a double-page painting from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi
Manuscripts
Double page: The Trial by Fire of Siyavush (painting, verso; text, recto), left-hand side of a double-page painting from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi
Unknown Artist, 1575-1590

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian
Folio from an Illustrated Manuscript of a Compendium of Knowledge (Jung), made for Shah Sulayman
Manuscripts
Folio from an Illustrated Manuscript of a Compendium of Knowledge (Jung), made for Shah Sulayman
Unknown Artist, c. 1669-1670

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

17th centuryPersian
Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 179), from a manuscript of the Kulliyat of Sa‘di
Manuscripts
Text folio (text recto; text verso of folio 179), from a manuscript of the Kulliyat of Sa‘di
Unknown Artist, 16th century

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian
Rustam in Combat at the Castle of Mount Sipand (painting recto; text verso of folio 64), Illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi
Manuscripts
Rustam in Combat at the Castle of Mount Sipand (painting recto; text verso of folio 64), Illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi
Unknown Artist, 17th-18th century

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

17th-18th centuryIndian
Teisai's Ghost (Teisaiga: Bakemono gacho)
Manuscripts
Teisai's Ghost (Teisaiga: Bakemono gacho)
Unknown Artist
Japanese
Opening folios from a Calligraphic Manual
Manuscripts
Opening folios from a Calligraphic Manual
Unknown Artist, 17th century
17th centuryOttoman
Manuscript of a Qur'an
Manuscripts
Manuscript of a Qur'an
Unknown Artist, c. 1727

Calligraphy; ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

18th centuryPersian
Text (recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Javahir al Ghara’ib Tarjomat Bahr al- `Aja’ib (Gems of Marvels: A Translation of the Sea of Wonders) by Mustafa Cenabi (Jannabi).
Manuscripts
Text (recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Javahir al Ghara’ib Tarjomat Bahr al- `Aja’ib (Gems of Marvels: A Translation of the Sea of Wonders) by Mustafa Cenabi (Jannabi).
Unknown Artist, 1582

Ink on paper

16th centuryOttoman
Pythagorean Theorem (verso), folio 19 from a Manuscript of Tahrir Uqlidis by Nasir al-Din Tusi
Manuscripts
Pythagorean Theorem (verso), folio 19 from a Manuscript of Tahrir Uqlidis by Nasir al-Din Tusi
Unknown Artist, 1710

Ink on paper

18th centuryOttoman
Bahram Gur hunts with Azada (painting, verso; text, recto), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi
Manuscripts
Bahram Gur hunts with Azada (painting, verso; text, recto), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi
Unknown Artist, 1562

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

16th centuryPersian
Kay Kavus Seated on the Eagle-powered Throne (text recto; painting verso of folio 91), Illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI