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Two Mounted Warriors

mid-16th century
Not on view
The so-called Parthian shot, that is, the arrow shot delivered backward while galloping forward, required considerable practice and was an important skill of the Mongol cavalrymen, which allowed them to better many other armies. Although the horsemen wear post-Ilkhanid tunics, battle scenes from the early fourteenth century are similar in spirit to these sixteenth-century figures, which were drawn from earlier models. Likewise, the horses have the stance of Mongolian ponies, but details, such as their straight long tails and proportionally small heads, indicate Safavid taste.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Two Mounted Warriors
  • Date: mid-16th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran
  • Medium: Ink, watercolor, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
    W. 3 3/16 in. (8. 1 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Bequest of George D. Pratt, 1935
  • Object Number: 45.174.3
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
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"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
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Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars) of al-Sufi, `Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi Iranian, Ink and gold on paper; leather binding
Kitab suwar al-kawakib al-thabita (Book of the Images of the Fixed Stars) of al-Sufi
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Tughra (Insignia) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66), Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Tughra (Insignia) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66)
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"Farhad Carves a Milk Channel for Shirin", Folio 74 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
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Multiple artists/makers
931 AH/1524–25 CE

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