Folio from a Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi (d. 1020); recto: obliterated inscription; verso: Solomon enthroned, right-hand half of a double-page frontispiece

Folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; recto: blank, obliterated inscription; verso: right-hand half of a double-page frontispiece, facing folio (S1986.196.2), Solomon enthroned; one of a group of twenty-five folios.
Border: The painting is set in gold and blue inner frame and an illuminated outer frame.

Historical period(s)
Safavid period, ca.1590-1600
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 31.7 x 18.4 cm (12 1/2 x 7 1/4 in)
Geography
Iran, Shiraz
Credit Line
Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1986.196.1
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Manuscript
Type

Detached manuscript folio

Keywords
angel, demon, frontispiece, Henri Vever collection, illumination, Iran, Safavid period (1501 - 1722), Shahnama, Solomon
Provenance

To 1910
Reza Khan Monif, Paris, France. [1]

From 1910 to 1942
Henri Vever (1854-1942), Paris and Noyers, France, purchased from Reza Khan Monif, Paris, France on August 2, 1910. [2]

From 1942 to 1986
Family member, Paris and Boulogne, France, by inheritance from Henri Vever, Paris and Noyers, France. [3]

From 1986
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased from a family member, Paris and Boulogne, France. [4]

Notes:

[1] See Susan Nemazee, "Appendix 7: Chart of Recent Provenance" in An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection, Glenn D. Lowry et al (Washington, DC: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1988), p. 405. See also Glen D. Lowry and Susan Nemazee, "Appendix 2: Ledger of Acquisitions, 1894 and 1907-17" in A Jeweler’s Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (Washington, DC: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1988), p. 230.

[2] See note 1.

[3] See the Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection of January 9, 1986, Collections Management Office.

[4] See note 3.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Reiza Khan Monif
Henri Vever 1854-1942
Francois Mautin 1907-2003

Description

Folio from a dispersed copy of the Shahnama (Book of kings) by Firdawsi; recto: blank, obliterated inscription; verso: right-hand half of a double-page frontispiece, facing folio (S1986.196.2), Solomon enthroned; one of a group of twenty-five folios.
Border: The painting is set in gold and blue inner frame and an illuminated outer frame.

Published References
  • Rene Grousset. The Civilizations of the East. 4 vols., New York and London, 1931-1934. vol. 1: p. 331, fig. 253.
  • Henry René d'Allemagne. Du Khorassan au pays des Backhtiaris, trois mois de voyage en Perse. Paris. vol. 1: frontispiece.
  • The Hague. Catalogus tentoonstelling van Islamische kunst. cat. 21, p. 22.
  • Glenn D. Lowry, Milo Cleveland Beach, Elisabeth West FitzHugh, Susan Nemanzee, Janet Snyder. An Annotated and Illustrated Checklist of the Vever Collection. Washington and Seattle. cat. 123, p. 112.
  • Oleg Grabar. Masterpieces of Islamic Art: The Decorated Page from the 8th to the 17th Century., English ed. New York. p. 151, fig. 46.
  • Sabiha Al Khemir. Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture. Exh. cat. Utah. p. 216.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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