id: 135807 accession number: 1959.330.a share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1959.330.a updated: 2023-08-23 21:29:10.835000 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. Iran, Tabriz, Ilkhanid period (1256-1353). Ink and opaque watercolor on paper; 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.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1959.330.a 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) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: 1330–35 creation date earliest: 1330 creation date latest: 1335 current location: creditline: John L. Severance Fund copyright: --- culture: Iran, Tabriz, Ilkhanid period (1256-1353) technique: Ink and opaque watercolor on paper department: Islamic Art collection: Islamic Art type: Manuscript find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: 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.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: inscription: Script: Naskh translation: remark: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: The Classical Style in Islamic Painting opening date: 1968-11-01T05:00:00 The Classical Style in Islamic Painting. The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY (organizer) (November 1, 1968-January 4, 1969). title: Persian Miniature Manuscripts opening date: 1977-08-13T04:00:00 Persian Miniature Manuscripts. The Scottish Arts Council Gallery, Edinburgh, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (organizer) (August 13-September 11, 1977). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE (Georges Demotte [1877-1923], New York, NY) date: c. 1910-? footnotes: citations: Homberg date: footnotes: citations: (Mrs. Paul [Marguerite] Mallon [d. 1977], Paris and New York, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) date: ?-1959 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 1959- footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: Mongol interest in the production of illustrated manuscripts eventually focused on Persian epic poetry. The Shahnama, 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. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1959.330.a/1959.330.a_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1959.330.a/1959.330.a_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1959.330.a/1959.330.a_full.tif