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 drawing of a Sasanian rock relief was created by Lutf-'Ali Shirazi. Executed with ink on paper, it depicts Shapur I and members of his court at Naqsh-i Radjab, southern Iran. The composition is neatly structured into horizontal registers. On the right, Shapur I, distinguished by his elaborate crown and majestic beard, sits astride his horse. To the left stand members of his court, their figures rendered with precise contour lines. Note how Shirazi’s use of line emphasizes the textures of clothing and hair, providing a tactile quality. This drawing operates as a semiotic system, where each element is a signifier. For example, the king's elevated position on horseback and his grand adornments are visual cues denoting power. The careful arrangement of figures and the attention to detail reflect the Sasanian court's emphasis on order and hierarchy. These elements, combined with the linear precision, reveal the drawing as more than just a visual record, functioning instead as a statement on rulership, and courtly life.