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An Episode from the Story of the Sasanian King Khusrau and His Beloved Shirin, from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141–1209) (verso); Persian verses from a Haft Awrang (Seven Thrones) of Jami (d. 1492) (recto)
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The <em>Khamsa </em>is a collection of five narrative poems, one of which is dedicated to the romance of Khusrau Parviz (590–628), a Sasanian king of Iran, and Shirin, his beloved Armenian princess. The lovers are seated in a nocturnal landscape, indicated by the dark blue sky dotted with stars, painted with now tarnished silver. Shirin serves figs and pomegranates, symbolic of fertility, to Khusrau as attendants bring more figs and wine. Next to Shirin’s black horse, the musician at bottom right plays a <em>tanbur</em>, a long-necked, fretted lute.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Safavid period (1501-1722) |
|---|---|
| Date | 1540–70 |
| Culture / Origin | Iran, probably Shiraz, Safavid period (1501-1722) |
| Medium | opaque watercolor, gold, silver, and ink on paper; double-sided |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 29.6 x 16.2 cm (11 5/8 x 6 3/8 in.); Image: 21 x 13 cm (8 1/4 x 5 1/8 in.) |
| Department | Islamic Art |
| Type | Manuscript |
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Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
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