Drawing of Sasanian rock relief: Shapur I (r. A.D. 241-272) and members of his court at Naqsh-i Radjab, southern Iran 1812

This 1812 drawing by Lutf-'Ali Shirazi depicts a Sasanian rock relief at Naqsh-i Radjab, in southern Iran, that portrays Shapur I, the second ruler of the Sasanian Empire, and his court. The relief features Shapur I, riding a horse, accompanied by seven individuals, likely members of his court. The drawing, created with pencil, captures the details of the ancient rock relief, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of the Sasanian era. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this drawing, a remarkable example of the art of copying ancient reliefs in 19th-century Iran.