Rustam Takes Aim at Ashkabus, from a Shah-nama (Book of Kings)
Unknown Artist
c. 1425–50
Medium
Gum tempera and ink on paper
Dimensions
painting: 13.7 × 20.5 cm · folio: 31.8 × 25.6 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
Accession Number
2020.204
About this artwork
The central warrior is Iran’s mythic hero Rustam, who approached an enemy army on foot, aiming to shoot the general off his mount. This page is from the oldest surviving illustrated Islamic manuscript made in India. The painting is by a local artist working for a Sultanate patron in India who admired Persian literature and emulated the erudite court culture of Iran.