160 - AN ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM THE SHAHNAMEH, THE STORY OF AFRASIYAB SPEAKING WITH HIS ARMY CONCERNING THE BATTLE, PERSIA TIMURID 15TH CENTURY

AN ILLUSTRATED FOLIO FROM THE SHAHNAMEH, THE STORY OF AFRASIYAB SPEAKING WITH HIS ARMY CONCERNING THE BATTLE, PERSIA TIMURID 15TH CENTURY Persian manuscript painting, opaque pigments, ink and gold illumination on paper. An illustrated folio from a manuscript of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (The Book of Kings), depicting a dramatic episode from the celebrated Persian national epic. The upper section features Persian calligraphic text arranged in rectangular panels, including the chapter heading, The Story of Afrasiyab Speaking with His Army Concerning the Battle. The lower portion presents a vivid martial scene, with two mounted warriors confronting one another at the centre of the composition. Their horses advance in opposing directions, creating a dynamic sense of movement and tension. Groups of soldiers, positioned behind undulating hills, observe the unfolding encounter, extending the narrative across the landscape. The composition is framed by architectural and ornamental borders, with finely drawn figures, colourful garments in red, blue, ochre and gold, and decorative details characteristic of Timurid manuscript painting. The folio combines narrative illustration with Persian calligraphy, exemplifying the artistic tradition of illustrated Shahnameh manuscripts in 15th-century Persia. 33 by 23 cm.