"The Iranians Mourn Farud and Jarira", Folio 236r from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp

Art Historical Context

This exquisite folio, titled *The Iranians Mournud and Jarira*, leaf 236r from the monumental *Shahnama* (Book of Kings) Shah Tahmasp, a lavish Safavid Persian manuscript created around 1525–30. Attributed to artists Mirza Muhammad Qab and 'Abd al-'Aziz, with poetry by the epic's author Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, captures a poignant moment of collective grief from the 10th-century Persian national epic. Here, the Iranian people lament the tragic deaths of the heroes Farud and Jarira, evoking deep sorrow amid horses, men, and women gathered in mourning—a timeless theme of loss and heroism central to Persian storytelling. Rendered in opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper (painting 11¼ × 7⅜ in.), the work exemplifies the pinnacle of Safavid miniature painting. Fine lines and jewel-like colors create a dynamic composition, with gold illuminating figures and silver adding subtle sheen to armor and skies. These techniques highlight the era's mastery of illumination, where text and image harmonize in codices like this *Shahnama*, produced for the royal court of Shah Tahmasp (r. 1524–76). Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art Department (gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970), this folio reflects Persia's cultural golden age, blending literature, history, and artistry to preserve epic legends. Visitors are drawn to its emotional depth, inviting reflection on shared human experiences of death and remembrance.

About the Artist

Mirza Muhammad Qabahat|Abu'l Qasim Firdausi|'Abd al-'Aziz ( |Iranian| ) · |0935 |1500 – |1020 |1550

|Iranian, Paj ca. 940/41–1020 Tus|active first half 16th century