An Illustration to a Sub-Imperial Mughal
Shahnama of Firdausi
King Nurshirwan Receiving a Minister
Sub-Imperial Mughal (probably at Agra)
Ca. 1605-20
Gouache with gold and black ink on polished wasli leaf
10 1/16 x 6 1/8
4 5/8 x 4 1/2 (miniature)
Surmounted above and below with columns of horizontal and diagonal black ink Nasta’liq script
set within black and gold ruled lines. On the verso, twenty five lines of black and red ink Nasta’liq text set within ruled columns. On the recto, paint flaking has revealed black ink underdrawing in some areas particularly on some faces.
From a scarce illustrated copy of the Shahnama of Firdausi executed in Sub-Imperial Mughal style.
The color palette, costume details, facial types and floral sprigs (depicted as floating between foreground and background) would suggest a date in the early Seventeenth Century possibly within the reign of Akbar (1542-1605) or early in that of his successor Jahangir (r. 1605-27). This manuscript was likely produced for a Muslim patron at Agra - a center of artistic activity patronized by members of the Mughal court.
The dispersed manuscript to which this leaf originally belonged contained over five hundred text folios written in very fine Nasta’liq script on highly polished paper with 25 lines to the page in four columns. Each folio with intercolumner ruled lines in black, blue and gold with some displaying cloudbands in gold. The manuscript also contained approximately sixteen miniatures and five illuminated headpieces.
Also see:
Binney, Edwin “Indian Miniature Paintings From the Collection of Edwin Binney 3rd,
The Mughal and Deccani Schools” Portland 1973 cat 37 39a and 39b pps 62-64
Sotheby’s Catalog: Fine Oriental Miniatures London part two-Indian Miniatures May 4 1977 lot 318
sold
Shahnama of Firdausi
King Nurshirwan Receiving a Minister
Sub-Imperial Mughal (probably at Agra)
Ca. 1605-20
Gouache with gold and black ink on polished wasli leaf
10 1/16 x 6 1/8
4 5/8 x 4 1/2 (miniature)
Surmounted above and below with columns of horizontal and diagonal black ink Nasta’liq script
set within black and gold ruled lines. On the verso, twenty five lines of black and red ink Nasta’liq text set within ruled columns. On the recto, paint flaking has revealed black ink underdrawing in some areas particularly on some faces.
From a scarce illustrated copy of the Shahnama of Firdausi executed in Sub-Imperial Mughal style.
The color palette, costume details, facial types and floral sprigs (depicted as floating between foreground and background) would suggest a date in the early Seventeenth Century possibly within the reign of Akbar (1542-1605) or early in that of his successor Jahangir (r. 1605-27). This manuscript was likely produced for a Muslim patron at Agra - a center of artistic activity patronized by members of the Mughal court.
The dispersed manuscript to which this leaf originally belonged contained over five hundred text folios written in very fine Nasta’liq script on highly polished paper with 25 lines to the page in four columns. Each folio with intercolumner ruled lines in black, blue and gold with some displaying cloudbands in gold. The manuscript also contained approximately sixteen miniatures and five illuminated headpieces.
Also see:
Binney, Edwin “Indian Miniature Paintings From the Collection of Edwin Binney 3rd,
The Mughal and Deccani Schools” Portland 1973 cat 37 39a and 39b pps 62-64
Sotheby’s Catalog: Fine Oriental Miniatures London part two-Indian Miniatures May 4 1977 lot 318
sold
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