id: 146121 accession number: 1971.305 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1971.305 updated: Rustam Lassoing his Horse, Rakhsh, in a Landscape (recto); Calligraphy, Persian Verses (verso), late 1500s. Afghanistan, Herat, Timurid period (1370–1501). Opaque watercolor, ink, gold and silver on paper; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. MacDonald 1971.305 title: Rustam Lassoing his Horse, Rakhsh, in a Landscape (recto); Calligraphy, Persian Verses (verso) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: late 1500s creation date earliest: 1460 creation date latest: 1499 current location: creditline: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. MacDonald copyright: --- culture: Afghanistan, Herat, Timurid period (1370–1501) technique: opaque watercolor, ink, gold and silver on paper department: Islamic Art collection: Islamic Art type: Manuscript find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Arts of Iran (Islamic art rotation) opening date: 2019-04-16T04:00:00 Arts of Iran (Islamic art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (April 16-October 6, 2019). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE Mr. and Mrs. John D. MacDonald, Cambridge, MA, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art date: ?-1971 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 1971- footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: The handsome youth lassoing the feisty colt in this painting is Rustam, the Shahnama's most popular hero. A favorite episode for artists, this event marks a turning point in the fortunes of Iran and offers a wonderful pictorial opportunity.

It occurs in a time of trouble for Iran—the throne is empty and a foreign army has invaded the land. The country needs a mighty warrior to fight for her, and the young Rustam is ready for the challenge—once he finds a horse that can bear his enormous weight!

The herds are gathered for Rustam's inspection: a piebald bay colt catches his eye. For three years no one has been able to capture the colt, known as "Rustam's Rakhsh." Rustam asks what price the herdsman wants for him. The reply: "If you are a true Rustam—a true 'deliverer'—mount him and make the land of Iran aright. The cost of Rakhsh is the soil of Iran and the deliverance of the world!" --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1971.305/1971.305_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1971.305/1971.305_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1971.305/1971.305_full.tif