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"Kai Khusrau Crosses the Sea", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi

Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian
ca. 1610
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 463
This painting shows the ship of Kai Khusrau, which, when pursuing his enemy Afrasiyab, was blown off course by a fearful storm to a place with all manner of strange sea creatures.


Judging from the exquisite detail and lavish use of gold, this leaf comes from a refined small-format Deccan Shahnama manuscript intended for a high ranking member of courtly society. The pastel palette and details like fantastic rock formations and small groupings of white buildings suggest it was made in Bijapur, India.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Kai Khusrau Crosses the Sea", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi
  • Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus)
  • Date: ca. 1610
  • Geography: Attributed to India, Deccan, Bijapur
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Page:
    H. 8 in. (20.3 cm)
    W. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
    Painting:
    H. 5 3/8 in. (13.6 cm)
    W. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Gift of Wendy Findlay, 1982
  • Object Number: 1982.476.3
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
"The Feast of Sada", Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Painting attributed to Sultan Muhammad
ca. 1525
The House of Bijapur, Kamal Muhammad, Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
The House of Bijapur
Painting by Kamal Muhammad
Painting by Chand Muhammad
ca. 1680
Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi, Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi
Author Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi
dated 741 AH/1340–41 CE
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Govardhan, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painting by Govardhan
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
verso: ca. 1630; recto: ca. 1530–50
"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian, Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi
Painting attributed to Qasim ibn 'Ali
ca. 1530

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