Accession Number
1963/1.72

Title
Talhand Confronts His Brother Gav on the Battlefield, from the Shahnama of Firdausi

Artist(s)
Iranian

Artist Nationality
Iranian

Object Creation Date
circa 1460

Medium & Support
ink, opaque watercolor, and gold leaf on paper

Dimensions
10 1/2 in. x 7 in. ( 26.7 cm x 17.8 cm )

Subject matter
Talhand Confronts His Brother Gav on the Battlefield

...Those illustrious kings, 
All dudgeon and vindictiveness, then saddled
Two elephants, each at his army's centre
Took up his station, and assumed command.
The earth grew pitch-like, heaven azure-dim
With all the spears and silken bannerets, 
While air was ebon with the armies' dust.

While at the thud of battle-ax, of mace, 
And sword, a red reek went up from the deep,

...the hosts advanced,
Troop after troop, while all the plain was filled 
With livers, brains, and hearts.

Physical Description
This Persian miniature is attributed to the Shiraz and Timurid schools, ca. 1460. The painting is done in ink, opaque watercolor and gold leaf on paper. The scene, Talhand Confronts His Brother Gav on the Battlefield, is part of the Shahnama of Firdausi, the Persian book of kings. 

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Figures
Iranian Islamic painting styles after the Mongols
Iranian Islamic styles after the Mongols
Persian-Farsi (language)
Shahnama
Timurid
Timurid painting styles
battle
calligraphy (visual works)
elephants
gold leaf
gouaches (paintings)
hills
horses
men on horseback
miniatures (paintings)
shahs
watercolor painting (technique)