"Conquest of Baghdad by Timur", Folio from a Zafarnama (Book of Victory)
Dhu'l Hijja 839 A.H./June–July 1436 CE
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 11 3/8 in. (28.9 cm) W. 8 in. (20.3cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1955
Accession Number
55.121.17
Tags
Art Historical Context
This stunning folio from the *Zafarnama* (Book of Victory), titledConquest of Baghdad byur," captures a pivotal moment in the campaigns of the Turco-Mongol conquer Timur (Tamer). Created in June–July 1436 CE during the Timurid era, it illustrates the dramatic siege and fall of Baghdad in 140, a city long central to Islamic culture. The *Zafarnama*, by Sharaf al-D 'Ali Yazdi, chronicles Timur's triumphs, blending history with heroic narrative to glorify his legacy. Attributed to illuminator Ya'qub ibn Hasan, known as Siraj al-Husaini, this page hails from a luxurious codex in the Metropolitan M...