Miniature from a copy of Nizami’s Khamsa. ‘Iskander Watching the Sirens’
Iran, Shiraz; 1463
Leaf: 33.3 × 22.8 cm
Inventory number 39/2006
Along with Firdawsi, Nizami (1141-1203) is considered Iran’s greatest classical author. As the name indicates, his Khamsa (Quintet) comprises five individual works, the last of which is the Iskandarnama (Book of Iskandar).
Iskandar is Alexander the Great, who is found as a Persian hero in the works of both Nizami and Firdawsi, and is viewed as a kind of proto-Muslim in the Koran.
On one of his many journeys, where he meets with all manner of wonders, Iskander watches a bevy of sirens bathing in a lake. The water was originally silver-colored, but has now decomposed into black. The coral-like rocks are a Far Eastern feature that was retained in Iran for quite some time.
Iskandar is Alexander the Great, who is found as a Persian hero in the works of both Nizami and Firdawsi, and is viewed as a kind of proto-Muslim in the Koran.
On one of his many journeys, where he meets with all manner of wonders, Iskander watches a bevy of sirens bathing in a lake. The water was originally silver-colored, but has now decomposed into black. The coral-like rocks are a Far Eastern feature that was retained in Iran for quite some time.
Published in
Published in
Philipp Walter Schulz: Die persisch-islamische Miniaturmalerie : ein Beitrag zur Kunstgeschichte Irans, Leipzig 1914, vol. 2, pl. 38;
Christie's, London, S.K., 20/10-1994, part of lot 293;
Kjeld von Folsach: For the Privileged Few: Islamic Miniature Painting from The David Collection, Louisiana, Humlebæk 2007, cat.no. 16;
Christie's, London, S.K., 20/10-1994, part of lot 293;
Kjeld von Folsach: For the Privileged Few: Islamic Miniature Painting from The David Collection, Louisiana, Humlebæk 2007, cat.no. 16;
Miniature Paintings
Miniature from a copy of al-Sarai’s Nahj al-Faradis (The Paths of Paradise)
Miniature from a copy of al-Sarai’s Nahj al-Faradis (The Paths of Paradise)
Miniature from a copy of al-Sarai’s Nahj al-Faradis (The Paths of Paradise)
Miniature from a copy of al-Sarai’s Nahj al-Faradis (The Paths of Paradise)