The manuscript was created in Qajar Iran in 1838, presented to Muhammad Shah Qajar, later owned by Rudolf Gelpke, sold through Sam Fogg in London in 2017, and acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in 2019, where it is currently held.
The image showcases the second Sassanid king of kings of Iran, Shapur I, associated with the famous rock relief at Bishapur. It has been created as a detailed illustration in the Persian travelogue, which underlines the author’s ability to combine the description of the historical character with the observation of the depicted environment. The focus on the figure and the monument as the center of the illustration allows for a better understanding of the portrayed personage and his environment.
Ahmad Naqqash conveys both the image of the ruler and manages to capture the details of the architectural setting with precision. The specific choice to focus on the figure of Shapur and his costume allows him to underline the importance of the historical personage and achieve a sense of scale within the composition. At the same time, the choice to depict a figure wearing elaborate clothing and jewelry reflects the author’s attention to the specific traits of the environment and the setting he illustrates.
The image becomes a hallmark of the artist’s approach, which emphasizes the need to focus on the main detail while illustrating the events and subjects. Ahmad Naqqash was a notable master of the decorative and miniature painting, and his works underlined the importance of precision and the observance of the minute detail. Such an approach allowed him and his contemporaries to document the architectural developments of ancient Iran, its culture, and achievements.
The figure of Shapur I, therefore, showcases not only the features of Iranian costume and customs but also underlines the importance of ancient buildings and their observation by foreign travelers and artists. Thus, the image becomes an important historical document that highlights how the Sassanid dynasty and its rulers were viewed in the Persian territory. The interest of Naqqash in the subject allowed him to create a masterpiece of miniature painting, which assigned new meaning to the depiction of historical figures and events.
This masterful drawing created by an outstanding master Ahmad Naqqash as a part of the Persian travelogue depicts Shapur I, the second Sassanid king of kings of Iran, linked to the famous rock relief of Bishapur. The author of the illustration emphasizes the importance of the portrayed personage by depicting him in the center of the composition at a considerable size relative to the surrounding objects. The meticulous precision applied to illustrate the minor elements of the costume and jewelry, as well as the unique facial features of the king, deserves particular attention. The attention to the described details deepens our understanding of the relevant historical period. Thus, this miniature becomes a valuable source of information about ancient Iran, its architecture, and culture, which were preserved and interpreted in the later medieval times by foreign visitors and artists who depicted them in their works.
