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"Luhrasp Hears from the Returning Paladins of the Vanishing Kai Khusrau", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi

Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian
Painting by Siyavush Iranian
Dedicatee Shah Isma'il II Iranian
1576–77
Not on view
The illustration is one of fifty-five dispersed folios from a Shahnama thought to have been commissioned by the Safavid ruler Shah Isma'il II (r. 1576–77). Siyavush, the painter of this work, worked in the royal atelier of Shah Isma'il’s father Shah Tahmasp and continued to work at the Safavid court after Shah Tahmasp’s death. The paintings from this Shahnama are simpler than previous examples and are larger in scale. Details such as the rocks are thinly painted with little attention to detail, suggesting that the painting was never finished.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Luhrasp Hears from the Returning Paladins of the Vanishing Kai Khusrau", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi
  • Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus)
  • Artist: Painting by Siyavush (Iranian, ca. 1536–1610)
  • Dedicatee: Shah Isma'il II (Iranian, ruled 1576–77)
  • Date: 1576–77
  • Geography: Made in Iran, Qazvin
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)
    W. 12 5/8 in. (32.1 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1935
  • Object Number: 35.48
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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"The Murder of Iraj," Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Ink, watercolor, and gold on paper
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