• Additional view of object
  • Additional view of object
Sep 29, 2010
Sep 29, 2010

Nushirwan Listens to the Owls (recto); the Story of Nushirwan and his Minister, "The Third Discourse on Diverse Events and Disorder in Life" (verso) from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141-1209)

Nushirwan Listens to the Owls (recto); the Story of Nushirwan and his Minister, "The Third Discourse on Diverse Events and Disorder in Life" (verso) from a Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (1141-1209)

1555–65

Part of a set. See all set records

Iran, Qazvin, Safavid period

(1501-1722)

Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper

Sheet: 32.7 x 21.8 cm (12 7/8 x 8 9/16 in.); Image: 20.3 x 12.7 cm (8 x 5 in.); Text area: 20.3 x 12.7 cm (8 x 5 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1944.487

Location

not on view

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Description

This scene is from the Makhzan al-Ashrar, the first of the Quintet. Although more historically oriented than the following poems, it served more as a vehicle for moralizing tales than for historical events. In this scene Nushirwan asks the sage Buzurgmihr to explain what the owls perched on a ruined building are saying. He explains that one owl is offering the other as many ruined cities as he likes in exchange for his daughter's hand. He thus reproves Nushirwan for his love of conquest and war and the consequent destruction of many cities.

See also
Collection: 
Islamic Art
Department: 
Islamic Art
Type of artwork: 
Manuscript
Medium: 
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Credit line: 
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

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