Kay Khusrau besieges the castle of Bahman
Series Title: Shahnama
Creation Date: ca. 1475
Display Dimensions: 9 17/32 in. x 6 5/16 in. (24.2 cm x 16 cm)
Credit Line: Edwin Binney 3rd Collection
Accession Number: 1990.252
Collection: The San Diego Museum of Art

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Kay Khusrau besieges the castle of Bahman
Creation date: ca. 1475
Creation place: India
Type: Manuscript Painting
Description: 15th century India Painting Manuscript Painting
Medium and Support: Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Credit Line: Edwin Binney 3rd Collection
Accession Number: 1990.252
Court: Delhi
School: Sultanate
State/Province: Delhi
Manuscript/Book Title: Shahnama (Book of Kings)
Dimensions: 9 17/32 in. x 6 5/16 in. (24.2 cm x 16 cm)
Provenance: Hagop Kevorkian Fund, London, England ( - May 2, 1977 )
. Sotheby's, London, England ( May 2, 1977 - May 2, 1977 )
. Layton, London, England ( May 2, 1977 - May 2, 1977 ) . Edwin Binney 3rd, San Diego, California ( May 2, 1977 - August 27, 1990 )
. San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, California ( August 27, 1990 - )
Made at one of the northern Indian courts in the sixteenth century, this page from a copy of the Shahnama represents the melding of Indian and Persian book cultures. The text is a famous poem about the kings of Iran, which was also popular at the Persian-speaking courts of India. The painting here represents the story of Kay Khusrau. His predecessor, Kay Kavus, had promised the throne to the man who could successfully storm the fortress of Bahman. The king’s son and his soldiers stormed the castle but spontaneously burst into flames. Kay Khusrau then approached and in an instant the walls tumbled, and the horned demons guarding the castle fell to their deaths.
Source: The San Diego Museum of Art (search for 1990.252)