- Title Information
- Title
- Leaf
- Physical Description
- Extent
- 1 leaf; 19.3 x 26 cm
- Abstract
- Warrior slays gray dragon while his horse and an army look on. This dramatic scene from the Shahnama (Persian “Book of Kings,” completed 1010 by the poet Firdowsi, d. 1020) depicts the third of seven challenges that Prince Isfandiyar faced to free his sisters from captivity in Turan. His father, the king, set these increasingly difficult tests for Isfandiyar to pass before willingly abdicating and raising his son to the throne. In this challenge, Isfandiyar learns of a dragon on his perilous path. He has a carriage built with swords sticking out of each side, which he hides within. As the carriage approaches the dragon’s lair, the beast advances, gobbling the horses and cart. With the swords stuck in the dragon’s throat, Isfandiyar climbs out of the carriage to deliver a fatal blow by plunging his sword into the dragon’s brain. The dragon's defeat testifies to Isfandiyar’s ingenuity and bravery under duress, further evidence of the divine glory bolstering his claim to rule Iran.
- Note:
condition
(displayLabel="Physical Description")
- Image is very well preserved. Leaf has been remounted onto a white card. Silver leaf is oxidized, but image contains no major damage. Pigments appear stable. Large painted image with only 8 lines of calligraphy. One vertical crease from the bottom edge, but no pigment loss is associated with this. Vibrant palette, some pigment crackling in background rock formation. Cellophanetape stains on all 4 edges.
- Note:
physical Details
(displayLabel="Support")
- Paper
- Identifier:
Local
(displayLabel="Minassian Catalog No.")
- i054
- Identifier:
METSID
- 1184967572281250
- Related Item:
Host
(displayLabel="Collection:")
- Title Information
- Title
- Minassian Collection of Persian, Mughal, and Indian Miniature Paintings
- Identifier:
COLID
- 29
- Identifier:
URI
- http://dl.lib.brown.edu/minassian
- Genre (aat)
(authorityURI="http://vocab.getty.edy/aat/", valueURI="http://vocab.getty.edu/aat/300028569")
- manuscripts (documents)
- Access Condition:
rights statement
(href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/")
- No Copyright - United States
- Access Condition:
restriction on access
- Collection is open for research.