Harvard Art Museums > 2002.50.1: Bahram Gur and the Indian Princess in the Black Pavilion (painting, verso; text, recto), illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Khamsa (Haft Paykar) by Nizami 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"Bahram Gur and the Indian Princess in the Black Pavilion (painting, verso; text, recto), illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Khamsa (Haft Paykar) by Nizami , 2002.50.1,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Apr 20, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/165387. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 2002.50.1 Title Bahram Gur and the Indian Princess in the Black Pavilion (painting, verso; text, recto), illustrated folio from a manuscript of the Khamsa (Haft Paykar) by Nizami Classification Manuscripts Work Type manuscript folio Date 1584 Places Creation Place: Middle East, Iran, Shiraz Period Safavid period Culture Persian Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/165387 Physical Descriptions Medium Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper Dimensions 40.2 x 26.2 cm (15 13/16 x 10 5/16 in.) Provenance Recorded Ownership History [Christies, London, 18 October 1994, lot 28]. [Mansour Gallery, London, by 1994 or 1995], sold; to Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood, Belmont, MA (1994 or 1995 - 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 2002.50.1 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 The Haft paykar (Seven Beauties, or Seven Portraits) is a romantic epic poem of about 5130 couplets that narrates the life of the Sasanian king Bahram Gur. A substantial section of the poem relates how Bahram Gur discovered portraits of princesses from the seven climes, fell in love with these beauties, searched them out, and wed them all. For his brides he had an architect construct seven domed pavilions with colors corresponding to the seven climes and the planets that ruled them. On each day of the week, the king visited one princess, who would tell him a story in keeping with her color and mood. This painting depicts Bahram Gur’s visit on Saturday to the Indian princess, who occupies a black pavilion (governed by Saturn). The king and his bride, wearing black and dark gray robes patterned in gold, sit in a black-domed palatial structure, drinking wine as female servants and entertainers attend them. The illuminated text boxes are embedded in the palace architecture, becoming part of the densely ornamental painted surface. As is typical of these illustrations, the color of the protagonists’ clothing matches that of the architecture around them. Published Catalogue Text: In Harmony: The Norma Jean Calderwood Collection of Islamic Art , written 2013110 Bahram Gur in the Black Pavilion, from the Haft paykar Recto: text Verso: text and illustration, with title “Bahram goes on Saturday to the black pavilion” Folio: 40.2 × 26.2 cm (15 13/16 × 10 5/16 in.) 2002.50.1 Published: Christie’s 1994a, lot 28. The Haft paykar (Seven Beauties, or Seven Portraits) is a romantic epic poem of about 5130 couplets that narrates the life of the Sasanian king Bahram Gur. A substantial section of the poem relates how Bahram Gur discovered portraits of princesses from the seven climes, fell in love with these beauties, searched them out, and wed them all. For his brides he had an architect construct seven domed pavilions with colors corresponding to the seven climes and the planets that ruled them. On each day of the week, the king visited one princess, who would tell him a story in keeping with her color and mood. This painting depicts Bahram Gur’s visit on Saturday to the Indian princess, who occupies a black pavilion (governed by Saturn). The king and his bride, wearing black and dark gray robes patterned in gold, sit in a black-domed palatial structure, drinking wine as female servants and entertainers attend them. The illuminated text boxes are embedded in the palace architecture, becoming part of the densely ornamental painted surface. As is typical of these illustrations, the color of the protagonists’ clothing matches that of the architecture around them. 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), pp. 246-247, cat. 110, ill. Exhibition History In Harmony: The Norma Jean Calderwood Collection of Islamic Art, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 01/31/2013 - 06/01/2013 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
