logo
Volume 44, Issue 1 (Spring 2023)                   Athar 2023, 44(1): 78-92 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.22034/44.1.78

XML Persian Abstract Print

Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Akhavan Aghdam N. (2023). A Comparative Study of Żaḥḥāk’s Story and Image in Šāhnāmah Manuscript 1722 A.D., Pakistan. Athar. 44(1), 78-92. doi: 10.22034/44.1.78
URL: http://athar.richt.ir/article-2-1340-en.html
A Comparative Study of Żaḥḥāk’s Story and Image in Šāhnāmah Manuscript 1722 A.D., Pakistan
Neda Akhavan Aghdam *
Associate Professor, Department of Art History, The Institute of Art’s Studies and Academic Research, Academy of Art, Tehran, Iran , n.akhavanaghdam@gmail.com
Abstract:   (1933 Views)

As one of the most prominent symbols of evil, Żaḥḥāk has a significant presence in Iranian literature, culture and mythology, and Ferdowsi has written his story in detail. Due to this importance in most illustrated manuscripts of Šāhnāmah, one or more pictures are dedicated to his story. It is expected that the image which is represented the story is accorded with narrative text but it seems in some cases this doesn’t happen and painters are freer to create images. These differences could be influenced by the cultural, social and political situations and also personal beliefs and interpretations. This article compares Żaḥḥāk images in one Šāhnāmah manuscript which is produced in Pakistan in 1722 A.D. In total, in this manuscript, six images are related to Żaḥḥāk’s story. This study tries to conclude by comparing the figures and the story which is narrated by Ferdowsi to what extent painters have paid attention to the text for creating images, and if there are differences between the images and text what it is. It seems that in some cases painters have created images which are understandable for the reader of the manuscript.This study is done by using analytical-comparative approach and data collection is based on library sources and observation.

Keywords: Art of Pakistan, Painting, Šāhnāmah Manuscript 1722 A.D, Šahnameh, Żaḥḥāk
Full-Text [PDF 1327 kb]   (1025 Downloads)    

✅ In total, in this manuscript, six images are related to Żaḥḥāk’s story. This study tries to conclude by comparing the figures and the story which is narrated by Ferdowsi to what extent painters have paid attention to the text for creating images, and if there are differences between the images and text what it is. It seems that in some cases painters have created images which are understandable for the reader of the manuscript.This study is done by using analytical-comparative approach and data collection is based on library sources and observation.


Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Archeology and History of Art
Received: 2023/01/28 | Accepted: 2023/04/5 | Published: 2023/07/15
References
1. Abdullaeva, F., & Melville, C. (2018). The Persian Book of Kings: Ibrahim Sultan's Shahnama (Treasures from the Bodleian Library) (A. Ahmadi Tavana, Trans.). Academy of Arts.
2. Adhal, K. (2000). A copy of the Divan Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i of the late eighteenth century in the Lund university library and the Kashmiri school of miniature painting. In R. Hillenbrand (Ed.), Persian Painting from the Mongols to the Qajars (pp. 3-18).
3. Azhand, Y. (2014). Shiraz Painting School. Matn.
4. Bal, M., & Bryson, N. (1991). Semiotics and Art History. The Art Bulletin, 73(2), 174-208. [DOI:10.2307/3045790]
5. Baniasadi, M. A. (2015). Studying the Miniatures of the Story of Zahak in Tahmasbi Shahnameh from the Point of View of Illustration. Negareh Journal, 9(32), 4-26.
6. Beykmoradi, N. (2008). A Comparative Study of Form and Color in two Illustrations of Tying up Zahhak in Baysonghori and Tahmasbi Shahnameh. Honar, (77), 242- 260.
7. Christensen, A. (1998). The Types of Primer Man and Primer Kings in Iranian Fiction History (J. Amouzgar & A. Tafazzoli, Trans.). Cheshme.
8. Elkins, J. (1998). On Pictures and the Words That Fail Them. Cambridge University Press.
9. Ferdowsi, A. (1960- 1971). Shahnameh. Eastern Literature.
10. Grabar, O. (2010). Why was the Shahnama illustrated? Iranian Studies, 43(1), 91-96. [DOI:10.1080/00210860903451238]
11. Grabar, O. (2017). Mostly Miniatures: An Introduction to Persian Painting (M. Vahdati Daneshmand, Trans.). Matn.
12. https://curiosity.lib.harvard.edu/islamic-heritage-project/catalog/40-990114893240203941. [https://curiosity.lib.harvard.edu/islamic-heritage-project/catalog/40-990114893240203941]
13. Izadi, A. (2018). A Visual Study on the Figures of the "Kava Tears Zahhak's Scroll" Painting from Tahmasp Shahnama, According to Gestalt Theory. Negareh Journal, 13(45), 18-31.
14. Kazemi, S. (2013). A Comparative Study of Illustrations of the Battle of Fereydoun and Zahhak in Safavid Schools of Painting. Motaleate-e Tatbighi-e Honar, 2(3), 47-60.
15. Manuscript. (1718-1721a). mass. F. 16, p. seq. 42, [https://nrs.lib.harvard.edu/urn-3:fhcl.hough:2788314?n=42]
16. Manuscript. (1718-1721b). mass. F. 17, p. seq. 44, [https://nrs.lib.harvard.edu/urn-3:fhcl.hough:2788314?n=44]
17. Manuscript. (1718-1721c). mass. F. 22, p. seq. 54, [https://nrs.lib.harvard.edu/urn-3:fhcl.hough:2788314?n=54]
18. Manuscript. (1718-1721d). mass. F. 22 v, p. seq. 55, [https://nrs.lib.harvard.edu/urn-3:fhcl.hough:2788314?n=55]
19. Manuscript. (1718-1721e). mass. F. 24 v, p. seq. 59, [https://nrs.lib.harvard.edu/urn-3:fhcl.hough:2788314?n=59]
20. Manuscript. (1718-1721f). mass. F. 25, p. seq. 60, [https://nrs.lib.harvard.edu/urn-3:fhcl.hough:2788314?n=60]
21. Mehran, F. (2008). The Break-line Verse: Linkd between Text and Image in early Shāhnāmeh Manuscripts. Nāmeh-ye Baharestan, (13, 14), 103- 118.
22. Mitchell, W. J. T. (1986). Iconology. University of Chicago Press. [DOI:10.7208/chicago/9780226148052.001.0001]
23. Mostafavi Sabzevari, R. (2001). Iran's Heritage in the Subcontinent of India and Pakistan. Cultural Keyhan, (178), 58- 63.
24. Schapiro, M. (1983). Words and Pictures: On the Literal and the Symbolic in the Illustration of Text. Walter de Gruyter. [DOI:10.1515/9783110849813]
25. Shairi, H. R. (2004). Towards a Semiolinguistics Study of Picture. Binab, (5, 6), 162-167.
26. Simpson, M. S. (2013). ŠĀH-NĀMA iv. Illustrations. www.iranicaonline.org
27. Zekavat, S., & Hosseini, S. R. (2020). A Comparative Study of the Relationship between Text and Image in the Scene of Zahhak's Hanging Illustration in the Baysonghory, Ibrahim Soltan and Shah Tahmasp's Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). Journal of Negarineh Islamic Art, 7(19), 153- 171.
Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:
CAPTCHA
Send email to the article author

Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.