- Identification and Creation
-
- Object Number
- 2002.50.132
- Title
- Episodes from the Story of Hurmuzd (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/146958
- Physical Descriptions
-
- Medium
- Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
- Dimensions
- 37.1 x 23.7 cm (14 5/8 x 9 5/16 in.)
- Provenance
- [Christies, London, 17 October 1995, lot no. 79]. [Mansour Gallery, London, before 1997], sold; to Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood, Belmont, MA (by 1997-2002), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2002.
- Acquisition and Rights
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- Credit Line
- Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, The Norma Jean Calderwood Collection of Islamic Art
- Accession Year
- 2002
- Object Number
- 2002.50.132
- Division
- Asian and Mediterranean Art
- Contact
- am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
- 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 “A brand is applied to King Hurmuzd’s eyes”
Recto. Text corresponds with Ramazani (1963) vol. 5, pp. 77-79, lines 1870 - 1925; text describes Hurmuzd sending Ayin Gashasp with an army to fight against Bahram Chubina, and how he was slain by his comrade.
Verso. Text corresponds with Ramazani (1963) vol. 5, pp. 79-81, lines 1926-1977; text describes how Hurmuzd was blinded by Bandawi and Gustaham. -
Published Catalogue Text: In Harmony: The Norma Jean Calderwood Collection of Islamic Art , written 2013
90 A–B
Double page: Gushtaham and Banduy Blind Hurmuzd
A. Verso: text, with title “A brand is applied to King Hurmuzd’s eyes”
Folio: 37.1 × 23.7 cm (14 5/8 × 9 5/16 in.)
2002.50.132
B. Recto: text and illustration
Folio: 37.1 × 24 cm (14 5/8 × 9 7/16 in.)
2002.50.40
King Hurmuzd was deceived into suspecting his son, Khusraw Parviz, of rebellion. Forewarned of his father’s plan to put him to death, Khusraw escaped from Iran. Hurmuzd, suspecting his brothers Gushtaham and Banduy of siding with Khusraw, imprisoned them. With the king dispirited and in seclusion, however, the prisoners escaped, armed themselves, and rode to the royal palace, where their troops blinded the king.
The illustration depicts the gruesome moment when hot iron rods are put to Hurmuzd’s eyes. Instead of armed rebels, those who observe this scene are court officials, who display little emotion. Moreover, three women on the palace balcony seem entirely unaware of the event.
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
- Related Works
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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