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"Yazdegird I Kicked to Death by the Water Horse", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)

Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian
ca. 1300–30
Not on view
The legendary death of the Sasanian king Yazdegerd I–who was said to have been kicked by a horse that magically emerged from a spring–is charmingly depicted in this leaf from a dispersed manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi, one of a few codices of small dimensions. The attribution is uncertain either to Iraq or Iran in the Ilkhanid period. The decoratively curving tree and the grassy verge of the groundline, which rings the water, are traditional; the funguslike growths are derived from Chinese art and the costumes are Mongol. The gestures of the figures at the left register astonishment and dismay.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Yazdegird I Kicked to Death by the Water Horse", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)
  • Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus)
  • Date: ca. 1300–30
  • Geography: Attributed to Northwestern Iran or Baghdad
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Painting: H. 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)
    W. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
    Page: H. 14 in. (35.6 cm)
    W. 10 13/16 in. (27.5 cm)
    Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm)
    W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Cora Timken Burnett Collection of Persian Miniatures and Other Persian Art Objects, Bequest of Cora Timken Burnett, 1956
  • Object Number: 57.51.33
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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"The Murder of Iraj," Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Ink, watercolor, and gold on paper
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"Rustam Wrestles with Puladvand", Folio from a Shahnama, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque water color and gold on paper
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Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
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"Zahhak Brought as a Prisoner before Faridun", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings), Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
"Zahhak Brought as a Prisoner before Faridun", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)
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