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Selections of Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Calligraphy

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Bahram Gur hunting

AUTHOR/CREATOR
Calligrapher: unknown

CREATED/PUBLISHED
16th century

NOTES
Dimensions of Painting: 24.5 (w) x 33 (h) cm

Dimensions of Written Surface: 32.5 (w) x 44.5 (h) cm

Script: nasta'liq

This painting represents an episode drawn from Nizami's "Haft Paykar" (The Seven Thrones), the fourth book of his "Khamsah" (Quintet). The great Sasanian king Bahram Gur (r. 430-38), famous for his hunting powers and thus nicknamed "wild ass" (Bahram Gur), astonishes his companions with his quasi-divine prowess at hunting onagers. After his expedition and as a gesture of generosity, he orders 1,200 onagers (half to be branded and half to be earmarked with gold rings) to be distributed among his people.

The scene shows the ruler and his entourage on horseback as they shoot wild animals with arrows against a pink and green landscape. Behind a hillock appear four other men either looking at the scene below or observing the birds flying in the gold-painted sky. Both above and below the painting are included illuminated panels of the story's text, which continues on the fragment's verso (see 1-87-154.117 V). The illuminated panels with diagonal text and triangular corners (or "thumb pieces") in the upper right corner create a visual marker for the upcoming painting.

Although the painting is typical of 16th-century Persian compositions, it was repaired and repainted at a later date. A large rectangular panel was added, and the painting was filled in missing areas. Some of the characters' faces also bear overpainting.

Another painting drawn from Nizami's "Khamsah" is held in the collections of the Library of Congress, although it does not appear to come from the same manuscript. The painting represents the fainting of Laylah and Majnun, an episode described in the author's third book (see1-86-154.123 R).

SUBJECT
Islamic manuscripts
Arabic calligraphy
Nasta'liq
Illuminated Islamic manuscripts
Arabic script calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy

MEDIUM
32.5 (w) x 44.5 (h) cm

CALL NUMBER
1-87-154.117

REPOSITORY
Library of Congress, African and Middle Eastern Division, Washington, D.C. 20540

DIGITAL ID
ascs 156
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.amed/ascs.156

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