Siyavush Enthroned in a Garden Pavilion with Attendants, folio from a manuscript of the Shahnama by Firdawsi

116 Siyavush Enthroned in a Garden Pavilion with Attendants Folio from a manuscript of the Shāhnāma by Firdawsi Recto: text and illustration Verso: blank Iran, Safavid period, first half 17th century Black ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on beige paper, with underdrawing in black ink Folio: 37.3 × 24.6 cm (14 11/16 × 9 11/16 in.) 2002.50.26 The Iranian prince Siyavush is here shown seated on a golden throne after his marriage to Farangis (see cat. 81 A–B) and the festivities that followed the event. As a wedding gift, Farangis’s father, King Afrasiyab, granted Siyavush vast territories stretching to the Sea of China, as well as a golden throne and crown. The painting clearly shows these objects, and the red curtains ornamented with Chinese cloud forms emphasize the proximity of China. In style, the painting can be related to works following the visual tradition of Riza ʿAbbasi from the 1630s.[1] Mika M. Natif [1] We are grateful to Massumeh Farhad for this information (personal communication, March 18, 2011).