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"Siyavush Recounts His Nightmare to Farangis", Folio 195r from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

Author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi Iranian
Painting attributed to Qadimi Iranian
Workshop director Mir Musavvir Iranian
ca. 1525–30
Not on view
Siyavush, a Persian prince, awoke one night from a horrible nightmare. The dream, which proved to be prophetic, showed the destruction of his kingdom and foreshadowed the end of his life. Attributed to Qadimi and Mir Musavvir, the second supervisor of the Shahnama project, this folio combines the spatial logic of the Herat style with the elongated figures typical of Safavid painting under Shah Isma'il.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Siyavush Recounts His Nightmare to Farangis", Folio 195r from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
  • Author: Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus)
  • Artist: Painting attributed to Qadimi (Iranian, active ca. 1525–1565)
  • Workshop director: Mir Musavvir (Iranian, active ca. 1525–55)
  • Date: ca. 1525–30
  • Geography: Made in Iran, Tabriz
  • Medium: Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Painting:
    H. 11 1/16 in. (28.1 cm)
    W. 7 5/16 in. (18.6 cm)
    Page:
    H. 18 5/8 in. (47.3 cm)
    W. 12 11/16 in. (32.2 cm)
    Mat:
    H. 22 in. (55.9 cm)
    W. 16 in. (40.6 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970
  • Object Number: 1970.301.29
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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