"Bahman Taking Revenge on the Sistanians" Folio from the Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories) of Hafiz-i Abru
ca. 1425
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 6 5/8 in. (16.9 cm) W. 5 3/16 in. (13.1 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Cora Timken Burnett Collection of Persian Miniatures and Other Persian Art Objects, Bequest of Cora Timken Burnett, 1956
Accession Number
57.51.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
This folio from the *Majma' al-Tavarikh* (Compendium of Histories), created around 1425 by the Timurid historian Hafiz-i Abru, captures a dramatic moment from Persian legend: the warrior-king Bahman exacting revenge on the people of Sistan. Produced under the patronage of the Timurid court, the manuscript blends historical narrative with literary tradition, reflecting the era’s deep interest in preserving epic stories of heroism, conflict, and royal lineage through illuminated books. Executed in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, the miniature exemplifies the refined techniques of ear...