Persian Verses: The Fortieth Year of King Kisra Nushirwan's Reign and the Story of Buzurgmihr (recto) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Persian Verses: The Fortieth Year of King Kisra Nushirwan's Reign and the Story of Buzurgmihr (recto) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)

Date
1330–35
Medium
Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
Culture
Iran, Tabriz, Ilkhanid period (1256-1353)
Department
Islamic Art
Institution
Cleveland Museum of Art

Mongol interest in the production of illustrated manuscripts eventually focused on Persian epic poetry. The Shahnama , a compilation of the epics and tales of Iran's legendary heroes, was a natural choice; the book included many subjects that suited Mongol taste, such as banquets, battles, hunting, and magical or fantastic events. The painting on the other side of this page is of the Sasanian ruler of Iran, Khusraw I Anushirwan (531–579), descendant of Bahram Gur. Above the king's head an inscription reads, "Picture of Nushirwan the Just." The figure in the elaborate turban to the left of the king is probably the young Minister Buzurgmihr, famous for his wisdom and virtue. To celebrate the explanation of a troublesome dream by Buzurgmihr, Nushirwan held a series of seven banquets. The text around this painting describes the fifth banquet. The Mongol rulers of Iran placed high value on illustrated manuscripts, especially histories, and established royal library-workshops.

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