Artwork Page for Demon in chains

Details / Information for Demon in chains

Demon in chains

c. 1453

style of Muhammad Siya Qalam

(Iranian)
Culture
Iran or Central Asia, Timurid or Turkoman Period
Medium
opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Measurements
Image: 25.7 x 34.4 cm (10 1/8 x 13 9/16 in.); Overall: 27 x 35.2 cm (10 5/8 x 13 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1982.63
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

This page once belonged to a miscellany from the library of the early Ottonian sultans. It depicts two people in nomadic garb leading a demon, or Persian div, in chains between them. The female figure holding the chain to her face is painted to look nearly as ferocious as the captured div. The concept of divs as evil supernatural creatures of mysterious origin dates to pre-Islamic Persia, but they are also described in the text of the Qur'an. Divs in Persian literature and folktales are sometimes captured and forced to use their magic to serve a king or hero.
A horizontally oriented book page depicts a scene of two people with dark skin tones flanking a demon. Each holds a gold chain extending from a gold ring around the demon's neck. The demon has a wrinkled, dark gray face and body, drooping eyes, and a frowning, fanged mouth. The person on the left swings a light gray blade over his head, while the one on the right looks at the chain held in front of their face.

Demon in chains

c. 1453

Muhammad Siya Qalam

(Iranian)
Iran or Central Asia, Timurid or Turkoman Period

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