.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The style of the paintings illustrating this large copy can be paralleled to a Shahnama in the New York Public Library, dated to circa 1720-25 AD. In her description of the manuscript, Barbara Schmitz compares it to a Shahnama in the British Library, dated 1719 and copied in Rajauri, a city on the border between Kashmir and Jammu. Other paintings in this style, from an abridgment of Nizami's Khamsa dated 1722-23 AD are in the National Museum, New Delhi. These manuscripts share a similar palette with the paintings divided by horizontal bands of colours. Costumes are the same, including the large turbans, beards, and handlebar moustaches (Barbara Schmitz, Islamic Manuscripts in The New York Public Library, New York, 1992, cat.III.11, pp.186-187, pl.XIII, fig.184-188).
The Tab Hamlat Haydari is a versified account of the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his first four successors according to Shi'ism. The author was of Persian descent and his father emigrated from Mashhad during Shah Jahan's reign and held high positions in the Mughal government. Bazil himself was a trusted servant of Aurangzeb, who appointed him governor of Gwalior and Bareilly in succession.
This Hamla-i Haydari, a poem in epic metre, narrating the life and achievements of the Prophet was Bazil's main contribution as a poet. His intended project was to bring the poem down to the days of 'Ali, which remained incomplete as Bazil died. He composed forty thousand verses.
Another copy of this work was sold at Sotheby's, London, 24 April 1991, lot 296.
The Tab Hamlat Haydari is a versified account of the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his first four successors according to Shi'ism. The author was of Persian descent and his father emigrated from Mashhad during Shah Jahan's reign and held high positions in the Mughal government. Bazil himself was a trusted servant of Aurangzeb, who appointed him governor of Gwalior and Bareilly in succession.
This Hamla-i Haydari, a poem in epic metre, narrating the life and achievements of the Prophet was Bazil's main contribution as a poet. His intended project was to bring the poem down to the days of 'Ali, which remained incomplete as Bazil died. He composed forty thousand verses.
Another copy of this work was sold at Sotheby's, London, 24 April 1991, lot 296.