June 2005
Tastes in Asian Art Installation
One of the most popular subjects for Persian patrons and artists is the history of the kings of Iran as related in the Shahnama. The Shahnama, the national epic of Iran, was composed by the Persian poet Firdausi around the year 1000.
One of the pre-Islamic Safavid kings, Luhrasp, sits on a covered outdoor throne in a garden; he is the focus of attention in this double-page frontispiece of a lavishly produced Persian book. He receives a cup of wine, while learned men of the court sit serenely by his side. This scene contains stock elements of an ideal paradise, with its outdoor walled garden setting, complete with cypress trees, fountains, dancers, and musicians. Figures at the left bring gifts of exotic animals, while the figures with the muskets in the foreground suggest the royal hunts that would take place in the extensive grounds.
Last Updated: 8/7/2014