Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Book of Kings (Shahnama)
(Manuscripts and Rare Books, Islamic World , Islamic Manuscripts)
Walters manuscript W.602, a copy of Firdawsi's Shahnamah (Book of kings) was written by Muhammad Mirak ibn Mir Muhammad al-Husayni al-Ustadi, most probably in Herat (present-day Afghanistan). It was completed in 1028 AH/AD 1618-1619. There are two Arabic colophons, one at the end of the preface (fol. 7a) and the other at the end of part 1 (fol. 334a). The preface is by Abu Mansur Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Razzaq, who composed it in 346 AH/AD 957-958. Although incomplete at the end, the manuscript contains 83 illustrations. Some are by a later hand and attributed to Safavid artists Riza 'Abbasi and Shaykh 'Abbasi in the 11th century AH/AD 17th (fols. 55b, 62b, 391b, 476b, and 479b). The lacquer binding is not contemporary with the manuscript and dates to the 13th century AH/AD 19th.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 1998 | Mything Persons: Historic Figures in Legends of East and West. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1988-1989 | The Royal Style. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1984-1985 | Illuminated Manuscripts: Masterpieces in Miniature. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Loan Consideration | examined for loan |
Geographies
Afghanistan, Herat (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Folio H: 14 3/8 x W: 9 1/4 in. (36.5 x 23.5 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
W.602
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