"Bahram Gur's Skill with the Bow", Folio 17v from a Haft Paikar (Seven Portraits) of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja 1405 - 1455

"Bahram Gur's Skill with the Bow" is a folio from a 15th-century illustrated manuscript of the *Haft Paikar* (Seven Portraits) by Nizami of Ganja, an epic poem that tells the story of the Sassanid king Bahram Gur and his seven loves. The artwork features a hunting scene, a popular theme in Persian miniature paintings. The illustration depicts Bahram Gur riding on horseback, with his bow drawn, while a group of his attendants watch on. The scene is set in a lush landscape filled with trees and wildlife, typical of the genre of Persian manuscript illustration. This folio, now located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, showcases the exquisite detail and vibrant colors characteristic of Persian miniature painting.