ManuscriptsPersian16th century

Praise for Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna (text, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

1561-1562

Description

The first narrative in the Shahnama, the story of Gayumars represents the beginning of civilization. Gayumars, the figure seated on a tiger skin, was anointed the first shah when the sun shed its luster on him. As depicted in this painting, his reign was a golden age, with the sun smiling down on the mountaintop kingdom. Evil soon appeared in the form of the demon Ahriman and his wolf-like son (upper left), enemies of everything in the world that was fine and noble.

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 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.