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"Bahram Gur Slays a Dragon", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)

Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian
ca. 1330–40
Not on view
While out hunting, Bahram Gur encountered an awesome dragon. He shot two arrows into it and cut it open with his sword. The shah was horrified to find a dead youth inside it. Half- blinded by his grief for the youth and by the dragon's venom, Bahram pulled the body out of the dragon. In spite of the patch over the center of the picture, the scene is quite clear. The shah's horse appears stiffly-even crudely-drawn, but the foliage of the tree on the left and the stalwart determination expressed by the figure of Bahram are well executed.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Bahram Gur Slays a Dragon", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)
  • Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus)
  • Date: ca. 1330–40
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran, probably Isfahan
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
  • Dimensions: Page:
    H. 8 in. (20.3 cm)
    W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
    Painting:
    H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)
    W. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Monroe C. Gutman, 1974
  • Object Number: 1974.290.36
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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