"Assad Ibn Kariba Launches a Night Attack on the Camp of Malik Iraj", Folio from a Hamzanama (The Adventures of Hamza)
The Hamzanama relates the story of Hamza, an uncle of the prophet Mohammad and an ardent defender of the Muslim faith. In this scene, Assad ibn Kariba, a supporter of Hamza shown dressed in an orange jama, takes an army of unbelievers (non-Muslims) by surprise in a night attack. In the midst of the chaos, the unbelievers attack and kill one another. The drama-filled story of the Hamzanama was a favorite of the Mughal emperor Akbar, who commissioned this magnificent manuscript in 1562. Composed of 1400 illustrations and bound into several volumes, the work took nearly one hundred artists fifteen years to complete.
Artwork Details
- Title: "Assad Ibn Kariba Launches a Night Attack on the Camp of Malik Iraj", Folio from a Hamzanama (The Adventures of Hamza)
- Artist: Attributed to Basavana
- Artist: Attributed to Shravana
- Artist: Attributed to Tara (Indian, active mid-16th century)
- Date: ca. 1564–69
- Geography: Attributed to India. Found Kashmir
- Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on cloth; mounted on paper
- Dimensions: Overall painting: H. 27 in (68.6 cm)
W. 21 1/4 in. (54 cm)
Frame: H. 30 in. (76.2 cm)
W. 37 1/4 in. (94.6 cm)
D. 2 in. (5.1 cm) - Classification: Codices
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1918
- Object Number: 18.44.1
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
Audio
7952. Assad Ibn Kariba Launches a Night Attack on the Camp of Malik Iraj, Folio from a Hamzanama (The Adventures of Hamza), Part 1
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Multiple artists/makers
931 AH/1524–25 CE
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Sultan Muhammad
ca. 1525
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Qasim ibn 'Ali
ca. 1530
Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
ca. 1430–40
probably early 15th century
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