The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 18, 2024
Bahram Gur and Azada, from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025)
1500s
(1501-1722)
Sheet: 32.5 x 21.5 cm (12 13/16 x 8 7/16 in.); Image: 17.4 x 11 cm (6 7/8 x 4 5/16 in.)
Location: not on view
Description
This image from an unfinished painting depicts one of the most popular episodes from the life of the pre-Islamic Persian king Bahram Gur (reigned AD 420–38). A famed hunter, he was challenged by his concubine, Azada, to strike a donkey through its foot and ear with a single arrow. Azada is in the upper right playing the harp on a camel. Bahram Gur successfully meets her challenge at the bottom of the page; he tossed a rock into the donkey’s ear, then fired when the animal tried to kick it loose.- Catalogue of the Inaugural Exhibition June 6-September 20, 1916. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1916. cat. no. 77 archive.org
- Arts of Iran (Islamic art rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (October 30, 2018-October 28, 2019).Inaugural Catalogue, Gallery XII. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (June 6-September 20, 1916).
- {{cite web|title=Bahram Gur and Azada, from a Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (940-1019 or 1025)|url=false|author=|year=1500s|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1915.597