"Rustam Avenges His Own Impending Death", Folio 472r from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp 1500 - 1555

This miniature painting, "Rustam Avenges His Own Impending Death", is a folio from the Shahnama (Book of Kings), commissioned by Shah Tahmasp. It depicts a scene from the epic poem written by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, a 10th-century Persian poet. The Shahnama, a national epic of Persia, is a collection of tales about Persian kings and heroes. This illustration portrays the legendary hero Rustam, a central figure in the Shahnama, as he avenges his impending death. The miniature, painted in the Safavid style, is a testament to the rich artistic tradition of Persia, capturing the dynamism and detail of the epic tale in vivid colors and precise lines. The artwork is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.