Fire Ordeal of Siyavush, Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)

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Fire Ordeal of Siyavush, Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)

Northern India (?), circa 1475-1500
Drawings; watercolors
Opaque watercolor, gold, and black and red ink on paper
Image: 5 9/16 x 4 13/16 in. (14.13 x 12.22 cm); Sheet: 12 x 9 1/4 in. (30.48 x 23.5 cm)
Gift of Major and Mrs. C. C. Moseley (57.17.7)
South and Southeast Asian Art
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

The Shahnama (Book of Kings) is an epic Persian poem composed by Firdausi (or Ferdowsi; circa 934-1020) in circa 977-1010....
The Shahnama (Book of Kings) is an epic Persian poem composed by Firdausi (or Ferdowsi; circa 934-1020) in circa 977-1010. It narrates the legendary and historical past of the Persian Empire until the Arab Muslim conquest in the 7th century. Shahnama manuscripts were frequently produced throughout the Islamic world, including in South Asia. This folio and its set mates (57.17.3, 57.17.4, 57.17.10) are from a dispersed Shahnama that has stylistic antecedents from late 15th-century illustrated manuscripts produced in Herat, Afghanistan and Shiraz, Iran. (For example, see a folio from a Khavaranama (The Book of Eastern Exploits) of circa 1477 in the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto (AKM44.) This folio is from the story of Siyavush, which is recounted in the seventh book of the Shahnama. Siyavush is a legendary early Iranian prince who was the son of the mythical King Kay Kavus (or Kai Kaus). His stepmother was Sudabeh, a Yemeni princess who married Kay Kavus to become the Queen of Iran. Sudabeh became obsessed with Siyavush and falsely accused him of rape. Kay Kavus ordered Siyavush to prove his innocence by riding unharmed through a roaring fire. The virtuous prince is shown galloping through the fire while watched by Kay Kavus on horseback, Sudabeh from a second-floor palace window, and a group of courtiers. See also M.90.160.1.
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Bibliography

  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Painting, vol.1. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1993.