Rustam Lassoing his Horse, Rakhsh, in a Landscape (recto); Calligraphy, Persian Verses (verso) (late 1500s): Art, History and Details

Rustam Lassoing his Horse, Rakhsh, in a Landscape (recto); Calligraphy, Persian Verses (verso) (late 1500s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

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

The handsome youth lassoing the feisty colt in this painting is Rustam, the Shahnama's most popular hero. A favorite episode for artists, this event marks a turning point in the fortunes of Iran and offers a wonderful pictorial opportunity. It occurs in a time of trouble for Iran—the throne is empty and a foreign army has invaded the land. The country needs a mighty warrior to fight for her, and the young Rustam is ready for the challenge—once he finds a horse that can bear his enormous weight! The herds are gathered for Rustam's inspection: a piebald bay colt catches his eye. For three years no one has been able to capture the colt, known as "Rustam's Rakhsh." Rustam asks what price the herdsman wants for him. The reply: "If you are a true Rustam—a true 'deliverer'—mount him and make the land of Iran aright. The cost of Rakhsh is the soil of Iran and the deliverance of the world!"

Object facts

• Title: Rustam Lassoing his Horse, Rakhsh, in a Landscape (recto); Calligraphy, Persian Verses (verso)
• Date: late 1500s
• Culture: Afghanistan, Herat, Timurid period (1370–1501)
• Type: Manuscript
• Technique: opaque watercolor, ink, gold and silver on paper
• Collection: Islamic Art
• Department: Islamic Art
• Accession number: 1971.305

Collection credit

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. MacDonald

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.