"The Tenth Joust of the Rooks: Barta versus Kuhram," Folio 345r from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
ca. 1525–30
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: H. 9 1/16 in. (23 cm) W. 6 13/16 in. (17.3 cm) Entire Page: H. 18 5/8 in. (47.3 cm) W. 12 9/16 in. (31.9 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970
Accession Number
1970.301.45
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the electrifying world of Persian epic poetry with this stunning folio from the *Shahnama* (Book of Kings) of Tahmasp. Titled "The Tenth J of the Rooks: Barta versus Kuhram," 345r captures a high-stakes battle between two warriors, their horses charging fiercely amid fluttering flags. Illustrated by Bashdan Qara around 1525–30, it draws from Abu'l Qasim Firda's 11th-century masterpiece, the national epic of Iran that chronicles the mythical and historical kings of Persia through tales of heroism, rivalry, and valor. Crafted in the Safavid court at its artistic zenith, this opaque wa...
About the Artist
Bashdan Qara|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian|Iranian) · 1500 |0935 –1560 |1020
Iranian, active ca. 1525–1535|Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus