"Alexander the Great and Dying Darius", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories) of Hafiz-i Abru

Hafiz-i Abru

ca. 1425 · Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on brownish paper · Islamic Art

Written by court historian Hafiz-i Abru and modelled after the Ilkhanid Jami' al-Tavarikh, the text of the Majma' al-Tavarikh begins at the time of Adam and continues into the rule of Shah Rukh (r. 1405–47). This folio depicts Alexander the Great, a historic figure who figures prominently in various Persian literaturary and histories, where he is described as the half-brother of the Persian king Darab (sometimes identified as Darius). Alexander and Darab go to war, and Darab’s attendants decide to kill their leader and pledge allegiance to Alexander. Here, Alexander discovers his dying half-brother and tells him of their common parentage before promising to put the murderers to death.

Artist

Hafiz-i Abru

Date

ca. 1425

Medium

Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on brownish paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1952