A LARGE ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM THE SHAHNAMEH OF FERDOWSI
Kashmir, Northern India, 19th century

A LARGE ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM THE SHAHNAMEH OF FERDOWSI
Kashmir, Northern India, 19th century

Persian manuscript on paper, 40ll. of black ink nasta’liq script divided into three pairs of columns to the folio, the text narrating Kaykhosrow’s battle against the king of Makran, chapter headings in red, the verso illuminated in opaque polychromes and silver with the fantastical scene of Kaykhosrow on the river Oxus, observing the wonderous sea creatures, accompanied by noblemen in a boat reminiscent in shape of an Indian temple shikara, the prince in the raised bow, the sea creatures reflecting the text describing lions and bulls in water, including as well a finned tiger, men of varying hues, a double-headed man, dragons, fish, and fierce dogs, set within blue, red, gold, and black rules, in a dark blue mount, the text panel 46.8cm x 25.3cm, the folio 54cm x 29cm, 64cm x 39cm including the mount.

The naïve and charming scene echoes illustrations from manuscripts and bestiaries from both regional and Western sources. For a discussion on mythical sea creatures in Islamic art, please see L’Etrange et le Merveilleux en Terre d’Islam, Louvre Museum publication, 2001. For further sea creature prototypes, please see Mir Kalan Khan’s c. 1750 ‘Man saved from sea monsters by a prince’s vessel' in the Parisian Collection Frits Lugt, Institut Neerlandais (Inv. 1971-T.76) or the c. 1550 Falnama page at the Louvre (Inv. MAO 984).