RUSTAM SHOOTS SHAGHAD THROUGH THE TREE

SAFAVID ISFAHAN, IRAN, FIRST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY

Details

RUSTAM SHOOTS SHAGHAD THROUGH THE TREE
SAFAVID ISFAHAN, IRAN, FIRST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY
An illustration from the Shahnama of Firdawsi, opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, Rustam mounted on Raskh shoots at Shaghad from within the pit of spears, Shaghad hides behind a large leafy tree which extends into the margins, a gold sky above, lines of sepia nasta'liq in four columns above and below, miniature pricked with pounce holes, text panels outlined in gold, black and blue, verso with 25ll. of sepia nasta'liq arranged in four columns with double gold intercolumnar rule, headings in larger gold and red, margins with some staining, mounted
Text panel 8¾ x 5in. (22.4 x 12.6cm.); folio 13¼ x 8¾in. (33.5 x 22.2cm.)

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Lot Essay

The tall figures and the large blossoms on the curved tree above Rustam are similar to another Shahnama illustration attributed by B.W. Robinson to Isfahan and dated 1604, (B.W. Robinson, Persian Paintings in the India Office Library, London, 1976, no. 1038, p.202). The outlines of the forms found on this painting are pricked which indicates it was highly valued a drawing and was used as a stencil for other works.

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