Rustam's Third Trial: Combat with a Dragon (painting recto), Rustam’s Fourth Trial: He Kills a Witch (painting verso)
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.
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 MoreInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
16th centuryUzbekAccordian-folded book; gold and red on dark-blue paper
17th centuryJapaneseInk and opaque watercolor on paper
15th-16th centuryIndianInk, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
16th centuryPersianInk, colors, and gold on paper
15th centuryPersianInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
17th centuryPersianThe eighteenth of a series of 54 backing sheets mounted in an album; ink and color on paper
16th centuryJapaneseInk, colors, and gold on paper
16th centuryPersianInk on paper
19th centurySyrianInk, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
16th centuryOttomanOpaque watercolor and gold on paper; Rajput Style, Mewar School
17th centuryIndian