"Khusrau Parviz before his Father Hurmuzd (?)", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)

Abu'l Qasim Firdausi

ca. 1430–40 · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper · Islamic Art

This painting and the two next to it come from the same copy of a highly Persianate Shahnama that was probably made in northern India. The paintings from this book were later placed in an album with brightly colored borders. The illustration may represent two figures of the Sasanian period, Hurmuzd (r. 579–90) and his son Khusrau (r. 590–628). Although here Khusrau makes a humble appearance at his father’s court, he later executed Hurmuzd and took the throne.

Artist

Abu'l Qasim Firdausi

Date

ca. 1430–40

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

The Grinnell Collection, Bequest of William Milne Grinnell, 1920