Illuminated title page: opening verses of the Shahnama, folio from a manuscript of the Shanama by Firdawsi

ManuscriptsPersian16th century

Illuminated title page: opening verses of the Shahnama, folio from a manuscript of the Shanama by Firdawsi

1562

Description

The verso of this folio features a richly illuminated taj, or crown-like element, at the top and a cartouche below it that contains the title of the work, inscribed in white: “Book of the Shahnama.” The text, with the beginning of Firdawsi’s prologue to the epic, is written in black nasta'liq in “cloud” reserves against a gold background filled with tiny flowers.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink 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 x 23.5 cm (14 9/16 x 9 1/4 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.

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Illuminated title page: opening verses of the Shahnama, folio from a manuscript of the Shanama by Firdawsi | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI