Harvard Art Museums > 2002.50.164: Story of Bahman Seeking Rustam and Launching a Boulder toward Him (text, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi Manuscripts Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Story of Bahman Seeking Rustam and Launching a Boulder toward Him (text, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi , 2002.50.164,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Dec 22, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/146631. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 2002.50.164 Title Story of Bahman Seeking Rustam and Launching a Boulder toward Him (text, recto and verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi Classification Manuscripts Work Type manuscript folio Date 1562 Places Creation Place: Middle East, Iran, Shiraz Period Safavid period Culture Persian Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/146631 Physical Descriptions Medium Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper Dimensions 37.1 x 24.1 cm (14 5/8 x 9 1/2 in.) Provenance Recorded Ownership History [Christies, London, 17 October 1995, lot no. 79]. [Mansour Gallery, London, before, 1998], sold; to Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood, Belmont, MA (by 1998-2002), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2002. Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, The Norma Jean Calderwood Collection of Islamic Art Accession Year 2002 Object Number 2002.50.164 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description Text folio with title “Bahman arrives at the hunting ground of Rustam and Zal” and a second title, now illegible Verso. Text corresponds with Mohl, vol. 4, pp. 586-589, lines 2698 - 2728; text describes Bahman meeting Zal, seeking and sizing up Rustam who is cooking an onager, and then launching a boulder towards him from the mountain-top, hoping to slay him. Published Catalogue Text: In Harmony: The Norma Jean Calderwood Collection of Islamic Art , written 201388 A–B Double page: Rustam Kicks Aside the Rock Thrown by Bahman A. Verso: text, with title “Bahman arrives at the hunting ground of Rustam and Zal” and a second title, now illegible Folio: 37.1 × 24.1 cm (14 5/8 × 9 1/2 in.) 2002.50.164 B. Recto: text and illustration Folio: 37 × 24.1 cm (14 9/16 × 9 1/2 in.) 2002.50.163 King Gushtasp sent his son Isfandiyar to bring the mighty hero Rustam to court in chains, promising Isfandiyar the throne if he could accomplish this feat. Searching for Rustam, Isfandiyar’s son Bahman came upon the hero roasting an onager in his hunting grounds and decided to kill him immediately, sparing his father a dangerous confrontation. From the top of a mountain he pried loose a large boulder and sent it rolling downhill toward Rustam, whose brother Zavara heard the noise and cried out in warning. Rather than move, however, the hero calmly waited until the stone was nearly upon him and then kicked it away. Impressed by Rustam’s power, Bahman approached him and told him of Isfandiyar’s mission. In the painting, Rustam is shown at the crucial moment of danger, yet, as the text describes, he remains seated, roasting his supper on a spit and merely stretching out his leg to kick away the large rock. Next to him his horse, Rakhsh, grazes undisturbed. Rustam’s hunting party rounds the horizon at the upper right, unaware of the incident, but two figures at the lower left witness and point at the scene. From behind the rocky ridge on the left, Bahman looks on, his finger to his mouth in astonishment. Animals, birds, and flowers rendered in delicate detail provide a soothing contrast to this tense moment of drama. Mika M. Natif Publication History Mary McWilliams, ed., In Harmony: The Norma Jean Calderwood Collection of Islamic Art, exh. cat., Harvard Art Museums (Cambridge, MA, 2013) Exhibition History In Harmony: The Norma Jean Calderwood Collection of Islamic Art, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 01/31/2013 - 06/01/2013 Related Works 2002.50.163 Rustam Fending off the Rock Dropped by Bahman (painting, recto; text, verso), folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi Manuscripts Verification Level This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu