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"Bahram Gur in the Turquoise Palace on Wednesday", Folio 216 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja

dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE
Not on view
The fourth of the late twelfth-century Persian poet Nizami's five epic poems, later combined to form the famous Khamsa (Quintet), was the Haft Paikar, or Seven Portraits, so named from one incident in the story. It recounts the legendary history of the Sasanian king Bahram Gur, who is idealized as a great lover and hunter. The story is known also as the Seven Princesses because Bahram Gur, so the story goes, married seven beautiful princesses from the seven regions of the world, and visited each in her own pavilion on successive nights of the week. In this highly sensual but moralistic work, each princess tells a story and there are additional stories within these.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: "Bahram Gur in the Turquoise Palace on Wednesday", Folio 216 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
  • Author: Nizami (present-day Azerbaijan, Ganja 1141–1209 Ganja)
  • Calligrapher: Sultan Muhammad Nur (Iranian, ca. 1472–ca. 1536)
  • Calligrapher: Mahmud Muzahib (Iranian, ca. 1500–1560)
  • Artist: Painting by Shaikh Zada (Iranian, active 1510–1550)
  • Date: dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE
  • Geography: Made in present-day Afghanistan, Herat
  • Medium: Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: Painting: H. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm)
    W.4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
    Page: H. 12 11/16 in. (32.2 cm)
    W. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
    Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm)
    W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Gift of Alexander Smith Cochran, 1913
  • Object Number: 13.228.7.10
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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"Battle between Alexander and Darius", Folio 279 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Battle between Alexander and Darius", Folio 279 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Nizami
Sultan Muhammad Nur
931 AH/1524–25 CE
"Khusrau Catches Sight of Shirin Bathing", Folio 50 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Khusrau Catches Sight of Shirin Bathing", Folio 50 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Multiple artists/makers
dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE
Overflap and Inside Cover of a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Binding: leather; embossed, gold, and color <br/>Manuscript: ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Overflap and Inside Cover of a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Multiple artists/makers
dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE
"Alexander at a Banquet", Folio 321b from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
"Alexander at a Banquet", Folio 321b from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Nizami
Sultan Muhammad Nur
dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE
"Khusrau Seated on his Throne", Folio 64 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, Nizami, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Khusrau Seated on his Throne", Folio 64 from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja
Multiple artists/makers
dated 931 AH/1524–25 CE

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