Rustam before Kay Kavous 1341
hasanibnmuhammadibnaliibnhusainiknownasalmausili
water colours
possibly oil pastel
handmade artwork painting
underpainting
painting painterly
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
mixed medium
mixed media
watercolor
"Rustam before Kay Kavous" is a 1341 illustration by Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn Husaini, known as al-Mausili. This image is part of a larger manuscript featuring a well-known epic poem, the Shahnameh, by Ferdowsi. The Shahnameh is a lengthy poetic work recounting the history of Persia from ancient times to the 7th century CE, and this scene depicts the epic hero Rustam encountering the Persian king Kay Kavous. Al-Mausili's detailed work features bold lines and color, typical of 14th-century Persian manuscript painting and a hallmark of the style that dominated the era.
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This illustration was commissioned by al-Hasan Qivam al-Din w’al-Daula, an adviser to the Inju rulers (c. 1325–56) who briefly ruled the Iranian province of Fars, considered the ancient homeland of the Persian people. Here, the legendary warrior Rustam (in characteristic tiger robe) is seen with his retinue, greeting King Kay Kavous to report a victory. The flat, red background, textiles with Chinese-inspired lotus and peony motifs, and figures with cursory yet animated outlines—the spears literally pierce the surrounding text—characterize these rare paintings from the provincial Inju school.
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