"Isfandiyar's Fourth Course: He Slays a Sorceress", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi 1305 - 1365

"Isfandiyar's Fourth Course: He Slays a Sorceress" is a folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) created by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi in the 14th century. The illustration, painted in opaque watercolor on paper, depicts a scene from the Persian epic poem. The scene shows Isfandiyar, a legendary hero, slaying a sorceress. The detail of the scene is evident in the precise depiction of the figures and the use of vibrant colors, characteristic of the Ilkhanid period of Persian manuscript illumination. This folio, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a captivating testament to the artistic mastery of Persian manuscript painting.