Painting, of a battle

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This Persian miniature painting dates to around 1540 and depicts the battle between Khusraw Parviz and Bahram Chubaina from Nizami's poem Khusrau and Shirin.

This painting, which has been attributed to Mir Sayyid 'Ali, who was based in Tabriz, shows the battle in full flow and captivates in great detail all the gruesome happenings. There are soldiers being lanced, decapitated or in one-to-one combat. Khusraw Parviz, elevated on a throne platform carried by a white elephant, watches the battle unfold. An astrologer raises his astrolabe to predict the outcome of the battle.

The miniature gives extensive clues to the material culture of 16th-century Persia. Military costume and equipment are all rendered with the upmost precision and detail.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-000-547-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1896.70
• Date: Around 1540
  c. 1540
  
• Material: Paper
  Painting, miniature / battle
  
• Dimensions: 16.00" L x 10.63" W
  
• What: Painting, miniature / battle
  
• Subject: Paintings and manuscripts
  
• Who: Bahram Chubaina
  Khusrau
  Khusrau and Shirin
  Nizami
  
• Where: Middle East, Persia
  
• Event:
• Description: Miniature painting of the battle between Khusrau and Bahram Chubaina from Nizami's poem Khusrau and Shirin, on paper with an illuminated border: Persia, c. 1540 AD
  
• References:
• Translations:
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