Shah Ismaʿil Defeating Amir Husayn and Murad Beg
Artistpainting by
Mu'in
or a follower (Persian, about 1635–1697)
Dateabout 1688, Safavid Period
Mediumwatercolor, gold paint, and ink on paper
Dimensionsimage: 17.8 x 15.2 cm (7 x 6 in.)
ClassificationsNon-Western Miniatures
Credit LineBequest of Alexander H. Bullock
Object number1962.179
Label TextProduced as a biography of Shah Ismaʿil (r. 1501–24), founder of the Safavid dynasty, this work differed from earlier Safavid histories by abandoning a strict chronological sequence and by embracing legendary events and fantastical traits ascribed to Ismaʿil. Anonymous histories like this one—of which there were several from the mid-1670s onward—reflect the oral tradition of popular storytelling. Laden with ideological values, the stories emphasized Ismaʿil’s superhuman qualities and legendary destiny.
Muʿin Musavvir was active in Isfahan from the mid-1630s to 1697, illustrating manuscripts and producing single-sheet paintings and drawings.ProvenanceAlexander H. Bullock, Worcester MAOn View
Not on view
Tabrīz, East Azerbaijan, Iran
1500–1525
