"The Khaqan Captive Before Bahram Gur", Folio 578r from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

Qasim ibn 'Ali|Mir Musavvir|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi

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

According to his 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 amongst 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. Under the influence of Mir Musavvir, the second supervisor of the Shahnama project, Abu'l Qasim toned down his Turkmen excesses and conformed to a sober decorative style in this illustration.

Artist

Qasim ibn 'Ali|Mir Musavvir|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