"The Final Joust of the Rooks: Gudarz Versus Piran", Folio 346r from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: H. 11 in. (27.9 cm) W. 7 1/2 in. (19 cm) Entire Page: H. 18 9/16 in. (47.1 cm) W. 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970
Accession Number
1970.301.46
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vibrant folio, titled *The Final Joust of Rooks: Gudarz Piran*, comes from the magnificent *Shahnama* (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, a crowning achievement of Safavid Persian art around 1525–30. Created for the Safavid ruler Shah Tahmasp I, this epic manuscript by the poet Abu'l Qasim Firda recounts Iran's mythical kings and heroes. Here, the Iranian warrior Gudarz clashes in a dramatic joust with the Turanian champion Piran, capturing a pivotal moment in the legendary wars between Iran and Turan—rivals depicted as rooks on a chessboard of fate. Master miniaturists Qasim ibn 'Ali and A...
About the Artist
Qasim ibn 'Ali|Aqa Mirak|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian|Iranian) · 1500 |0935 –1585 |1020
Iranian, active ca. 1525–60|Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus