"Khusrau Parviz's Charge against Bahram Chubina", Folio 707v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

Art Historical Context

This vibrant folio, titled *Khusrau Parviz's Charge against Bahram China*, comes from the magnificent *Shahnama* (Book of Kings) of Tahmasp, the crowning achievement of Safavid Persian manuscript art around 1530–35. Attributed to the master painter Bashdan Qara it illustrates a pivotal episode from the epic poem by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi: the heroic charge of the Sasanian king Khusrau Parviz against rebel general Bahram Chubin amid a chaotic battlefield teeming with armored warriors, rearing horses, and swirling dust. Such scenes captured Iran's mythical and historical kings, blending legend with dynastic pride for the Safavid court. Crafted in opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper—a hallmark of Persian miniature painting—the 7 3/4 x 6 1/2-inch image bursts with jewel-like colors and metallic sheen, evoking the splendor of royal tents and gleaming weapons. These codices, like this one from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art collection (gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970), were luxury objects for elite patrons, showcasing Tabriz artists' precision in dynamic compositions and flattened perspectives that prioritize narrative energy over realism. A testament to 16th-century Iran's cultural renaissance, this folio immerses us in the timeless drama of power struggles, where heroic charges on horseback symbolize valor and destiny in Persian lore.

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