"Bahram Gur Advances by Stealth against the Khaqan," Folio 577v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

Bashdan Qara|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi

ca. 1530–35 · Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper · Islamic Art

According to Bahram Gur’s spies, the Khaqan of Chin, Iran’s enemy, and his army were camped in a field near Merv. Bahram Gur and his soldiers marched across the breadth of Iran and caught the Khaqan’s army completely off guard. The Khaqan and many of his nobles were captured and the booty divided among the troops of Bahram Gur. Here, the Khaqan’s captors lead him to Bahram Gur, astride a richly caparisoned horse, while horns blow and the battle ensues in the background. Bashdan Qara, one of the younger generation of artists, produced or assisted on many of the Shahnama’s battle scenes.

Artist

Bashdan Qara|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi

Date

ca. 1530–35

Medium

Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970