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Lot Essay
Often in his work Parviz Tanavoli has returned to the theme of Farhad the Mountain Carver. The only sculptor mentioned in Persian poetry, Tanavoli looks upon Farhad as his role model.
The story of Farhad and Shirin is an ancient Persian love story. Several variations exist, but essentially it relates to three figures, Farhad the stone-cutter, Shirin, an Armenian princess, and Khosrow Parviz, one of the greatest of the Sassanian kings of Iran prior to Islamic conquest. In the Shahnama of Ferdausi, Khosrow is described as a passionate prince who wins the hand of Shirin after much effort. Firdausi does not mention Farhad. However, parallel to his version, a folk story developed, centred around a sculptor called Farhad, who was also in love with Shirin whilst Khosrow Parviz was still wooing her, and engineered a stream of milk for her. Khosrow invited his rival to his court, questioned him and then promised to give him Shirin if he removed the Behistun Mountain, as it blocked a passage to the palace.
Although seeming a Sisyphus-like task, in a passionate frenzy Farhad actually removed the mountain with his pickaxe. Hearing this, Khosrow sent an old woman to misinform Farhad that Shirin was dead, whereupon the sculptor killed himself with his pickaxe.
A similar though much smaller example was sold in these rooms 29 April 2009, lot 33. Compare to an example illustrated on p.119 of David Galloway, Parviz Tanavoli: Sculptor, Writer & Collector, Tehran, 2000.
The story of Farhad and Shirin is an ancient Persian love story. Several variations exist, but essentially it relates to three figures, Farhad the stone-cutter, Shirin, an Armenian princess, and Khosrow Parviz, one of the greatest of the Sassanian kings of Iran prior to Islamic conquest. In the Shahnama of Ferdausi, Khosrow is described as a passionate prince who wins the hand of Shirin after much effort. Firdausi does not mention Farhad. However, parallel to his version, a folk story developed, centred around a sculptor called Farhad, who was also in love with Shirin whilst Khosrow Parviz was still wooing her, and engineered a stream of milk for her. Khosrow invited his rival to his court, questioned him and then promised to give him Shirin if he removed the Behistun Mountain, as it blocked a passage to the palace.
Although seeming a Sisyphus-like task, in a passionate frenzy Farhad actually removed the mountain with his pickaxe. Hearing this, Khosrow sent an old woman to misinform Farhad that Shirin was dead, whereupon the sculptor killed himself with his pickaxe.
A similar though much smaller example was sold in these rooms 29 April 2009, lot 33. Compare to an example illustrated on p.119 of David Galloway, Parviz Tanavoli: Sculptor, Writer & Collector, Tehran, 2000.