R. 4 (University Library, Cambridge University)

Display:

E. G. Browne Collection

Summary of Contents: "Persian Pictures." A collection of 51 Persian miniatures illustrating episodes from the Sháhnáma of Firdawsí, apparently all by the same artist, and, so far as one can judge, of no special excellence. On the back of each the subject represented is indicated in a poor, modern Persian ta'líq. The volume formerly belonged to the late E. J. W. Gibb, and bears his ex libris. The leaves measure 25.7 x 14.5 c. Most of the episodes illustrated are taken from the earlier part of the Epic, but no chronological order is observed. Thus the subjects of the first twelve are: (1) Suhráb killed by Rustam; (2) Bahrám's war with the Faghfúr, or Emperor of China; (3) Túr killed by Qárin; (4) not indicated; (5) Kay-Ká'ús informed of the coming of Afrásiyáb; (6) death of Surkha (?) at the hands of Farámurz; (7) Rustam comes to the help of Gúdarz and Tús; (8) Kay-Khusraw takes counsel with the Persians; (9) execution of [name illegible] in the presence of Afrásiyáb; (10) Kundraw (?) comes before Afrásiyáb; (11) an Ambassador coming to Bahman; (12) Ká'ús informed of the coming of Siyáwush, etc.

Title: "Persian Pictures": album of 51 miniatures illustrating episodes from the Sháhnáma of Firdawsí

Apparently all by the same artist; each captioned on the reverse in a poor, modern Persian ta'líq. No chronological order is observed; episodes are mostly drawn from the earlier part of the epic, e.g. Suhráb killed by Rustam, Bahrám's war with the Faghfúr, and Kay-Ká'ús informed of the coming of Afrásiyáb.

Language(s): Persian

References

Illustrates episodes of the Sháhnáma of Firdawsí.

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Paper

Extent: 51 leaves (miniatures)

Dimensions (leaf): 25.7 × 14.5 cm.

Layout

One miniature per leaf, captioned on the reverse.

Hand(s)

Captions in a poor, modern Persian ta'líq.

Decoration

a book of miniatures, fully illustrated

History

Origin: n.d.

Provenance and Acquisition

The volume formerly belonged to the late E. J. W. Gibb, and bears his ex libris.

Passed to Cambridge University Library in 1936 (the "Browne Bequest").

Record Sources

Summary, physical description and provenance copied from R. A. Nicholson: A descriptive catalogue of the Oriental MSS belonging to the late E.G. Browne. Cambridge, 1932.

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact Cambridge University Library Admissions. Contact near_eastern@lib.cam.ac.uk for further information on the availability of this manuscript

Funding of Cataloguing

Cambridge University

Subjects

Miniature painting, Persian

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