The Death of Darius

This manuscript miniature depicts the dramatic confrontation between Alexander the Great (Iskandar) and the dying Achaemenid king Darius III (Dārā), who was mortally wounded and betrayed by two of his own officers. Having been wounded and betrayed, Darius lies at the feet of Alexander, who lifts him, holds him in his arms, and promises to avenge him and restore his honor. The picture is painted by the outstanding court painter Dharmdas, who perfectly depicts the characters’ psychological portraits and contrasts their facial expressions (chihrah-nāmī). Around the central figures, a numerous retinue, courtiers, and caparisoned horses fill the rocky ravine. Animated gestures make the picture lively and dramatic, as the attendants express their distress and concern about the beloved king. The painter also creates a sense of space and uses the Mughal style and techniques developed in Akbar’s court, which combined Persian lyrical flatness with European depth. The painterly layering of the Mughal style is seen in the multi-tiered rocky formations, rendered in pale mauve and buff colors, which dissolve into the pale blue distance, where a few stylized trees are visible. The picture is framed by four columns of exquisite nastaʿlīq script lettering, copied by the royal scribe ʿAbd al-Raḥīm ʿAmbarīn Qalam, which creates a unity of form and content, linking Persian poetry with a vivid image of the court.