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Manuscript/Mixed Material Khusraw kills a lion

About this Item

Title

  • Khusraw kills a lion

Created / Published

  • 16th-17th centuries

Headings

  • -  Calligraphy, Arabic
  • -  Calligraphy, Persian
  • -  Manuscripts, Persian--Washington (D.C.)
  • -  Iran
  • -  Arabic script calligraphy
  • -  Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Islamic calligraphy
  • -  Islamic manuscripts
  • -  Nasta'liq

Notes

  • -  From Nizami's classic book "Khamsah" (Quintet) the tale of "Khusraw va Shirin" Illuminated manuscript from Iran written in Nast'aliq script.
  • -  Above and below the composition appear the attending verses written in black nasta'liq script in four columns. The text is framed by cloud bands and appears on a gold background decorated with blue and red flowers. The entire text and painting panel is framed by variously colored borders and is pasted to a larger sheet of cream-colored paper.
  • -  Another painting from another manuscript of Nizami's "Khusraw va Shirin" is held in the collections of the Library of Congress. It depicts King Khusraw in battle (see 1-87-154.124 R & V).
  • -  Dimensions of Written Surface: 12 (w) x 21 (h) cm
  • -  On the verso the text is written in black nasta'liq script in four columns and separated by gold gutters decorated with black dots. An illuminated chapter heading in the center of the text panel includes the title of the section, in which Khusraw and Shirin sit together. The text panel is framed by variously colored borders and is pasted to a larger sheet of cream-colored paper.
  • -  The painting follows the text very closely by depicting Shirin and her attendants still in the pavilion and King Khusraw killing the lion with his bare hands. The painting's style resembles manuscripts produced for the market in Iran during the 16th and 17th centuries. The verso of this page describes Khusraw's killing of the lion.
  • -  The text's layout and the painting's style (on the recto) are found in manuscripts produced for the market in Iran during the 16th and 17th centuries.
  • -  This painting depicts an episode from the third book of Nizami's "Khamsah" (Quintet) entitled "Khusraw va Shirin". In this book, the adventures and battles of the Persian king Khusraw are described, as is his love for the Armenian princess Shirin. At a feast one day, Khusraw and Shirin were sitting and drinking together (as described on the folio's verso, 1-04-713.19.2 V) when suddenly a lion approached the royal pavilion. Thereupon, the king, albeit drunk, made a fist, hit the lion in the ear, and killed it on the spot.
  • -  Script: nasta'liq
  • -  1-04-713.19.2

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 19.4 (w) x 25 (h) cm

Repository

  • Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714586

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The contents of the Library of Congress Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions and are free to use and reuse.

Credit Line: Library of Congress, African and Middle East Division, Near East Section Persian Manuscript Collection

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Khusraw Kills a Lion. 16th-17th Centuries. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714586/.

APA citation style:

Khusraw Kills a Lion. 16th-17th Centuries. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714586/.

MLA citation style:

Khusraw Kills a Lion. 16th-17th Centuries. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714586/>.