"Gustaham Slays Lahhak and Farshidvard", Folio 349v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

Art Historical Context

This vibrant folio, "Gustaham Slayshak and Farshid" (Folio 349v), comes from the magnificent *Shahnama* (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp the crowning achievement of Safavid Persian manuscript art around 1525–30. Attributed to the skilled illustrator Bashdan Qara, illustrates a dramatic episode from Abu'l Qasim Firda's epic poem, where the hero Gustaham defeats his foes in battle. Amidst rearing horses and drawn bows, the scene pulses with the heroic valor central to Persian mythology, capturing a pivotal moment of triumph and chaos. Crafted in opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper, the miniature exemplifies the exquisite techniques of Persian illumination. The compact painting (just 6 3/4 by 6 7/8 inches) nestles within a larger folio page, allowing for intricate details—like the glint of gold armor and silver highlights—that bring the narrative to life. Produced in the royal atelier of Shah Tahmasp, this codex represents the zenith of Islamic book arts, blending poetry, history, and visual splendor to preserve Iran's legendary past. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art Department as a gift from Arthur A. Houghton Jr. (1970), it invites us to marvel at how Safavid artists transformed words into windows on ancient glory, where men, horses, and arrows clash in eternal drama.

About the Artist

Bashdan Qara|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi (Iranian|Iranian) · 1500 |0935 –1560 |1020

Iranian, active ca. 1525–1535|Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus