Abu'l Qasim Firdausi |

"Manuchihr Welcomes Sam but Orders War upon Mihrab", Folio 80v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

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"Manuchihr Welcomes Sam but Orders War upon Mihrab", Folio 80v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (935–1020)

Artist: Painting attributed to 'Abd al-'Aziz (active first half 16th century)

Object Name: Folio from an illustrated manuscript

Date: ca. 1525

Geography: Iran, Tabriz

Culture: Islamic

Medium: Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper

Dimensions: Painting: H. 11 1/16 x W. 7 1/4 in. (H. 28.1 x W. 18.4 cm) Entire Page: H. 18 9/16 x W. 12 1/2 in. (H. 47.1 x W. 31.8 cm)

Classification: Codices

Credit Line: Gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970

Accession Number: 1970.301.9

On view in Gallery 462

Description Object Information Related Objects Online Resources Video Audio

Sam arrived at the imperial court and was received by Shah Manuchihr, who listened with admiration as he reported on the victories and adventures of the campaign. However, when Sam broached the subject of his son Zal marrying his beloved Rudaba, the Shah would have none of it. Instead, he commanded Sam to leave at once for a war of annihilation against King Mihrab, Rudaba’s father. The artist, an assistant to Sultan Muhammad, has charmingly depicted a standard court scene populated by squat Turkman-type figures.

Provenance

Shah Tahmasp, Iran (until 1568; gifted to Selim II); Sultan Selim II, Istanbul (from 1568); Sultan Selim III, Istanbul (by 1800); Baron Edmond de Rothschild, Paris (by 1903–d. 1934); his son, Baron Maurice de Rothschild, Paris and Pregny, near Geneva (by 1955–d. 1957); [ Stiebel Ltd., New York, until 1959; sold to Houghton]; Arthur A. Houghton Jr., New York (1959–70; gifted to MMA)