ManuscriptsPersian16th century

Kay Khusraw Reviews His Troops (painting, verso; text, recto), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

1562

Description

Kay Khusraw, grown to manhood and now king of Iran, prepared to mount a campaign against the Turanian murderers of his father, Siyavush. Seated on a jeweled throne atop his mammoth war elephant, he rode out to review his army. The great imperial warriors, including Fariburz and Gudarz, filed past. The illustration portrays Kay Khusraw in a lavish howdah; he is surrounded by mounted soldiers with colorfully caparisoned horses and gold and silver weapons and helmets.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

Culture

Persian

Period

Safavid period

Century

16th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

37.2 x 23.9 cm (14 5/8 x 9 7/16 in.)

Provenance

[Christies, London, 17 October 1995, lot no. 79]. [Mansour Gallery, London, before 1998], sold; to Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood, Belmont, MA (by 1998-2002), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2002.