"Firdausi's Parable of the Ship of Shi'ism", Folio 18v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp
ca. 1530–35
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: H. 12 1/2 in. (31.7 cm) W. 8 15/16 in. (22.7 cm) Page: H. 18 1/2 in. (47 cm) W.12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm) Mat: H. 22 in. (55.9 cm) W. 16 in. (40.6 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970
Accession Number
1970.301.1
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step aboard the luminous world of Safavid Persia with *Firdausi's Par of the Ship of Shi'ism*, Folio 18v from the magnificent *Shahnama (Book of Kings)* commissioned by Shah Tahmasp 1530–35. This epic poem by Abu'l Qasim Firda recounts Iran's mythical kings and heroes, but this folio, painted by the master artist Mirza 'Ali, in a poignant Shi'ite allegory. The "Ship of Shi'ism symbolizes salvation, with figures aboard evoking the faithful navigating life's turbulent seas under divine guidance—a clever adaptation blending pre-Islamic lore with the Safavid dynasty's fervent Shi'a identity. Crafted in the golden age of Persian miniature painting, the artwork dazzles with opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper, measuring a stately 12½ by 8⅞ inches for the painting itself. Mirza 'Ali's intricate details—vibrant blues of the sea, gleaming metallic accents on boats and figures—capture dynamic motion and spiritual depth, hallmarks of Tabriz's court atelier. Tags highlighting boats and men hint at a bustling nautical scene, rich with symbolic men in traditional attire. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art Department as a rare codex folio (gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970), this page exemplifies how art propelled religious and cultural narratives, inviting us to ponder timeless themes of faith amid the waves.