Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, silver and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 18 1/2 in. (47 cm) W. 11 1/8 in. (28.2 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Alexander Smith Cochran, 1913
Accession Number
13.228.17
Tags
Art Historical Context
The *Shahnama (Book of Kings)* of Firda is a magnificent 17th-century illuminated manuscript from Safavid Iran, created between 1663 and 1669 CE. This codex brings to life the epic poem by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, a 10th-11th-century masterpiece chronicling Iran's mythical and historical kings through over 50,000 verses. Produced during the height of Safavid artistic patronage, it exemplifies the Persian miniature tradition, where storytelling fused poetry, history, and lavish illustration to celebrate national identity. Crafted by a team of renowned artists—including Bin Shams ad-Din Sheikh Muh...
About the Artist
Bin Shams ad-Din Sheikh Muhammad|'Ali Naqi ibn Shaikh 'Abbasi:|Aqa Nuyan|Ghulam Parmak|Fadl Ali|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi|Muhammad Zaman|Mu'in Musavvir ( |Iranian| |Iranian| |Iranian|Iranian|Iranian) · | | | | |0935 |1624 |1605 – | | | | |1020 |1725 |1722
|Iranian| |Iranian| |Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus|Iranian, active 1649–1700|Iranian, active 1630s–90s