"Bahman Taking Revenge on the Sistanians" Folio from the Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories) of Hafiz-i Abru

Art Historical Context

This folio from the *Majma' al-Tavarikh* (Compendium of Histories), created around 1425 by the Timurid historian Hafiz-i Abru, captures a dramatic moment from Persian legend: the warrior-king Bahman exacting revenge on the people of Sistan. Produced under the patronage of the Timurid court, the manuscript blends historical narrative with literary tradition, reflecting the era’s deep interest in preserving epic stories of heroism, conflict, and royal lineage through illuminated books. Executed in ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, the miniature exemplifies the refined techniques of early 15th-century Persian painting. Delicate brushwork and luminous gold highlights bring dynamic energy to the scene of mounted figures, while the small scale—roughly the size of a postcard—invites close viewing typical of manuscript art. Such codices served both educational and aesthetic purposes, circulating among elites as symbols of cultural sophistication. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Islamic Art collection, this page offers a vivid window into Timurid artistic patronage and the enduring power of illustrated history in Persian culture.