A page from the Compendium of Histories - Gushtasp explains the contents of Arjasp’s letter

Title

Year/Period

c.1426

Region

Herat

Object Type

fragments (object portions), illuminated manuscripts

Material

gold leaf, gouache (paint), ink, paper (fiber product)

Technique

calligraphy (process), gouache (technique), illustration (process)

Dimension

Object size: 42.5 x 33 cm

Accession No.

2009-03596

Collection of

Asian Civilisations Museum

This leaf is from a famous illustrated copy of the Majma’ al-Tawarikh (Compendium of Histories) which was commissioned by the Timurid ruler Shahrukh (reg. 1405-1447) and written by the historian Hafiz-i Abru. It is a history of the world from its beginning to the middle of Shahrukh’s reign and encompasses Biblical, Iranian, Islamic as well as Chinese history. Shahrukh was a well known and important literary patron. His commission of the Majma’ al-Tawarikh sought to legitimise the rule of the Timurid dynasty in Persia.