This library is built in the open.
If you spot an error, have a suggestion, or just want to say hello — we’d love to hear from you.
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileAnonymous (Mughal, court of Jahangir)
The scene illustrates a chaotic cavalry battle set in a rolling, rocky landscape, with figures engaged in hand-to-hand combat using swords, spears, and shields. The central focus is the clash between the two royal figures, framed by soldiers in vibrant, detailed attire and a backdrop of flags and banners. The illumination is rendered in saturated opaque watercolors and gold, typical of the Mughal court style during the reign of Jahangir.
As an illustration of the Shahnama, the work serves as a primary source for the heroic, monarchical, and ethical framework of Persian culture, which heavily influenced the political and philosophical landscape of the Mughal court. It represents the intersection of royal legitimacy and the epic tradition of kingship, themes often explored in Persian literature and Sufi commentaries on sovereignty.
Multiple columns of Nasta'liq Persian script are inscribed within the text blocks above and below the central painting, along with additional text segments in the side margins.
Translation
The text consists of verses from the Shahnama describing the battle between Manuchihr and Tur, recounting the lineage, conflict, and the violent struggle for dominance between the two figures.
Ferdowsi
The painting is a direct visual interpretation of the Shahnameh (Book of Kings) by the poet Ferdowsi.
Object
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
mythological
Digital Source
Unknown · Public domain
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3.1-flash-lite-preview on April 14, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.