Floor plan

Style galleriesPersian painting and the book

Persian painting and the book

Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi, by Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi, dated 741 AH/1341 CE
"Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories), by Hafiz-i Abru, ca. 1425
"The Angel Surush Rescues Khusrau Parviz from a Cul-de-sac", Folio 708v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, ca. 1530–35
Text Page, Persian Prose (recto); The Story of Adam peace upon him, his Sons and Progeny (verso), c. 1425
Royal Reception in a Landscape, left folio from the double frontispiece of a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (Persian, about 940–1019 or 1025), 1444
"Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, ca. 1530

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

Illustrated manuscripts and paintings from Persia, made for princes and their libraries.

Section 1, north wall

  1. Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi, by Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi, dated 741 AH/1341 CE
    Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of JajarmiMuhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi, dated 741 AH/1341 CECourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. "Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories), by Hafiz-i Abru, ca. 1425
    "Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation", Folio from a Majma' al-Tavarikh (Compendium of Histories)Hafiz-i Abru, ca. 1425Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. "The Angel Surush Rescues Khusrau Parviz from a Cul-de-sac", Folio 708v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, ca. 1530–35
    "The Angel Surush Rescues Khusrau Parviz from a Cul-de-sac", Folio 708v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah TahmaspAbu'l Qasim Firdausi, ca. 1530–35Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 1, south wall

  1. Text Page, Persian Prose (recto); The Story of Adam peace upon him, his Sons and Progeny (verso), c. 1425
    Text Page, Persian Prose (recto); The Story of Adam peace upon him, his Sons and Progeny (verso)Unrecorded Persian maker, c. 1425Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. Royal Reception in a Landscape, left folio from the double frontispiece of a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (Persian, about 940–1019 or 1025), 1444
    Royal Reception in a Landscape, left folio from the double frontispiece of a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (Persian, about 940–1019 or 1025)Unrecorded Persian maker, 1444Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  3. "Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, ca. 1530
    "Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon", Folio 434v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah TahmaspAbu'l Qasim Firdausi, ca. 1530Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. "The Four Knights of Kai Khusrau in the Mountains", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings), by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, dated 741 AH/1341 CE
    "The Four Knights of Kai Khusrau in the Mountains", Folio from a Shahnama (Book of Kings)Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, dated 741 AH/1341 CECourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. "Dancing Dervishes", Folio from a Divan of Hafiz, by Hafiz, ca. 1480
    "Dancing Dervishes", Folio from a Divan of HafizHafiz, ca. 1480Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi, by Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi, dated 741 AH/1340–41 CE
    Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of JajarmiMuhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi, dated 741 AH/1340–41 CECourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 2, north wall

  1. "Shaikh San'an and the Christian Maiden", Folio 22v from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), by Farid al-Din `Attar, ca. 1600
    "Shaikh San'an and the Christian Maiden", Folio 22v from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)Farid al-Din `Attar, ca. 1600Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. "A Ruffian Spares the Life of a Poor Man", Folio 4v from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), by Farid al-Din `Attar, ca. 1600
    "A Ruffian Spares the Life of a Poor Man", Folio 4v from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)Farid al-Din `Attar, ca. 1600Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  3. Preface (verso) from a double-page frontispiece of a Shahnama of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025), c. 1444
    Preface (verso) from a double-page frontispiece of a Shahnama of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025)Unrecorded Persian maker, c. 1444Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 3, north wall

  1. "Laila and Majnun at School", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of Ganja, by Ja'far Baisunghuri, 835 AH/1431–32 CE
    "Laila and Majnun at School", Folio from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami of GanjaJa'far Baisunghuri, 835 AH/1431–32 CECourtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  2. "Tahmuras Defeats the Divs", Folio 23v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp, by Abu'l Qasim Firdausi, ca. 1525
    "Tahmuras Defeats the Divs", Folio 23v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah TahmaspAbu'l Qasim Firdausi, ca. 1525Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Section 3, south wall

  1. Watercolor of tiny people and horses, framed with gold flowers on navy background.
    Royal Horse Inspection'Aliquli Jabbadar, Safavid dynasty (1501–1722), late 17th centuryCourtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago
  2. "The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), by Habiballah of Sava, ca. 1600
    "The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)Habiballah of Sava, ca. 1600Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art