A scene of the life of Alexander from the Sharaf-nameh
Unknown Artist
1500s
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Classification
Manuscript
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Lori H. Luciano in memory of her parents, Nicholas H. and Rhea A. Luciano
Accession Number
2021.237
About this artwork
This rare scene from the life of Alexander depicts a poor and pious woman falling into a desperate situation and giving birth to a son in some desolate place. Philip, the Macedonian ruler, is on a hunt and passes the ruin. Seeing the deceased woman with a hungry baby by her side, the King orders his followers to tend to the burial of the woman and brings up the orphan making him his crown prince.