Persian verses (verso) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025) (late 1400s): Art, History and Details

Persian verses (verso) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025) (late 1400s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

A prince from Iran’s early legendary history, Siyavush was sent by his father, the shah, to train under the great warrior Rustam in the arts of hunting, archery, and horseback riding. In the painting on the other side of this page, Siyavush demonstrates his considerable skill by hitting the bulls eye on a rolling target from horseback. The gold sky, pastel ground with grassy tufts, and dense leafy riverbank are distinctive features of Persian painting during this period.

Object facts

• Title: Persian verses (verso) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025)
• Date: late 1400s
• Culture: Iran, Shiraz, Timurid period (1370-1501)
• Type: Manuscript
• Technique: opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
• Dimensions: Overall: 32.4 x 21.6 cm (12 3/4 x 8 1/2 in.); Text area: 22.6 x 16.1 cm (8 7/8 x 6 5/16 in.)
• Collection: Islamic Art
• Department: Islamic Art
• Accession number: 1942.871.b

Collection credit

Gift of Heeramaneck Galleries

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.