Double Title Page of a copy of the Shahnama of Firdausi
Safavid dynasty (1501–1722), 16th century, c.1550
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
28.6 × 34.7 cm (11 1/4 × 13 3/4 in.); Right Page: 29.1 × 17.8 cm (11 7/16 × 7 in.); Left Page: 28.9 × 18.4 cm (11 3/8 × 7 1/4 in.)
Classification
gouache
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
131896
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Arts of Asia gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago, where we encounter the exquisite **Double Title Page of a copy of the Shama of Firdausi a gem from the Safavid dynasty1501–1722), dated around 1550. This double-page spread, measuring about 28.6 × 34.7 cm, served as the ornate introduction to a manuscript of Firdausi's epic *Shahnameh* (Book of Kings), the towering Persian national epic recounting Iran's mythical and historical kings from creation to the Islamic conquest. Crafted in opaque watercolor—classified as gouache—and lavish gold on paper, this work exemplifies the p...
About the Artist
Islamic
Islamic art, a profound visual tradition originating in the 7th century CE, flourished across vast territories from Spain to India under Muslim rule, encompassing architecture, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles, and metalwork produced by diverse artisans rather than a single named master. Drawing from pre-Islamic Sasanian, Byzantine, and late antique influences, its early development under the Umayy...