CENTRAL INDIA, DECCAN, PROBABLY GOLCONDA, MID 16TH CENTURY

The Shahnama or "Book of Kings" narrates the history of greater Iran from its mythological beginnings until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD. The epic has maintained a close connection with royal patronage since the time of its composition by the poet Ferdosi in the late 10th century. The commissioning of elaborately illuminated and illustrated copies was a popular tradition of many of the Persian-speaking courts of North and Central India. Through the multitude of illustrated scenes arising from the some 60,000 verses contained in the Shahnama, those involving the quintessential hero Rustam remained some of the most popular. In the case of lots 225 and 226, the choice of depicting the early scenes of the life of Rustam is perhaps an indication that this copy of the Shahnama was commissioned in celebration of the birth of a new royal heir.