"Bahram Gur in the Red Pavilion", Folio from a Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Author Nizami
Not on view
The painting shows a scene taking place in a garden setting with a prominent pavilion. Musicians play the tambourine and the harp, while a dancer is elegantly moving in rhythm with the music. This ensemble entertains the main characters of the story, a couple affectionately holding hands seated inside a pavilion under a prominent triangular shaped roof. Birds on trees with flowers evoke springtime. It is a well-known story of Nizami’s Haft Paikar ("Seven Princesses") recounting the legendary history of the Sasanian king Bahram Gur, an idealized lover and hunter.
The entwined arms of Bahram Gur and his wife form a striking knotted composition in red, accentuated by the red pavilion in which they sit. The Persian hero visits his fourth wife, the Slavic Princess Nasrin on a Tuesday. Other days of the week are reserved for his other wives in their respective pavilions, each individually colored to match the day.
