Persian Verses: The Fortieth Year of King Kisra Nushirwan's Reign and the Story of Buzurgmihr (recto) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)
1330-35
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
Mongol interest in the production of illustrated manuscripts eventually focused on Persian epic poetry. The <em>Shahnama</em>, a compilation of the epics and tales of Iran's legendary heroes, was a natural choice; the book included many subjects that suited Mongol taste, such as banquets, battles, hunting, and magical or fantastic events.
The painting on the other side of this page is of the Sasanian ruler of Iran, Khusraw I Anushirwan (531–579), descendant of Bahram Gur. Above the king's head an inscription reads, "Picture of Nushirwan the Just." The figure in the elaborate turban to the left of the king is probably the young Minister Buzurgmihr, famous for his wisdom and virtue. To celebrate the explanation of a troublesome dream by Buzurgmihr, Nushirwan held a series of seven banquets. The text around this painting describes the fifth banquet.
- Title: Persian Verses: The Fortieth Year of King Kisra Nushirwan's Reign and the Story of Buzurgmihr (recto) from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940–1019 or 1025)
- Date Created: 1330-35
- Physical Dimensions: Sheet: 59.3 x 40.2 cm (23 3/8 x 15 13/16 in.); Text area: 40.6 x 29.2 cm (16 x 11 1/2 in.)
- Provenance: (Georges Demotte [1877-1923], New York, NY), Homberg, (Mrs. Paul [Marguerite] Mallon [d. 1977], Paris and New York, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Type: Manuscript
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1959.330.a
- Medium: Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
- Inscriptions: Script: Naskh
- Department: Islamic Art
- Culture: Iran, Tabriz, Ilkhanid period (1256-1353)
- Credit Line: John L. Severance Fund
- Collection: Islamic Art
- Accession Number: 1959.330.a
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