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Manuscript/Mixed Material Bahram Gur hunting

About this Item

Title

  • Bahram Gur hunting

Created / Published

  • 16th century

Headings

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

Notes

  • -  Bahram Gur hunting drawn from Nizami's "Haft Paykar" (The Seven Thrones), illustrated page written in Nasta'liq script and typical of 16th-century Persian compositions.
  • -  Although the painting is typical of 16th-century Persian compositions, it was repaired and repainted at a later date. A large rectangular panel was added, and the painting was filled in missing areas. Some of the characters' faces also bear overpainting.
  • -  Another painting drawn from Nizami's "Khamsah" is held in the collections of the Library of Congress, although it does not appear to come from the same manuscript. The painting represents the fainting of Laylah and Majnun, an episode described in the author's third book (see1-86-154.123 R).
  • -  Dimensions of Painting: 24.5 (w) x 33 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: 32.5 (w) x 44.5 (h) cm
  • -  The scene shows the ruler and his entourage on horseback as they shoot wild animals with arrows against a pink and green landscape. Behind a hillock appear four other men either looking at the scene below or observing the birds flying in the gold-painted sky. Both above and below the painting are included illuminated panels of the story's text, which continues on the fragment's verso (see 1-87-154.117 V). The illuminated panels with diagonal text and triangular corners (or "thumb pieces") in the upper right corner create a visual marker for the upcoming painting.
  • -  This painting represents an episode drawn from Nizami's "Haft Paykar" (The Seven Thrones), the fourth book of his "Khamsah" (Quintet). The great Sasanian king Bahram Gur (r. 430-38), famous for his hunting powers and thus nicknamed "wild ass" (Bahram Gur), astonishes his companions with his quasi-divine prowess at hunting onagers. After his expedition and as a gesture of generosity, he orders 1,200 onagers (half to be branded and half to be earmarked with gold rings) to be distributed among his people.
  • -  Script: nasta'liq
  • -  1-87-154.117

Medium

  • 1 volume ; 32.5 (w) x 44.5 (h) cm

Repository

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

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2019714635

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:

Bahram Gur hunting. 16th Century. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714635/.

APA citation style:

Bahram Gur hunting. 16th Century. [Manuscript/Mixed Material] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2019714635/.

MLA citation style:

Bahram Gur hunting. 16th Century. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2019714635/>.