"Giv Avenges Bahram by Slaying Tazhav", Folio 248r from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

Art Historical Context

Behold the dramatic folio "Giv Avenges Bah by Slaying Taz" (Folio 248r), a jewel from the *Shahnama* (Book of Kings) of Tahmasp, the jewel of Safavid Persian manuscript art. Created around 1525–30 in the royal workshops of Tabriz, this page illustrates a pivotal moment from Abu'l Qasim Firda's epic 10th-century poem, national saga of ancient kings and heroes. Here, the warrior Giv exacts revenge for his comrade Bahram's death by striking down the villainous Tazhav amid a chaotic battlefield swirl—evoking themes of loyalty, vengeance, and martial glory, hinted at by tags like battles, army, and prisons. Masterfully painted by the artist Qadimi, the scene bursts with opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper, hallmarks of Persian miniature painting. These luminous metals catch the light, animating armored figures, rearing horses, and dynamic combat in a compact 7-by-6¾-inch painting framed on a grand 18⅝-by-12⅝-inch page. Such opulent codices, blending poetry and illustration, were prestige objects for elite patrons like Shah Tahmasp, showcasing the Safavid empire's cultural zenith. Now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970), this folio invites us into a world where myth fuels history, reminding visitors of Persian art's enduring power to narrate heroism through exquisite detail and vibrant storytelling.

About the Artist

Qadimi|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian|Iranian) · 1500 |0935 –1590 |1020

Iranian, active ca. 1525–1565|Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus