Khamsa of Nizami, Herat, c. 1493: Bahram Gur slaying the Dragon, painted by Bihzad
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Gray, Basil
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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Bihzad's favourite scheme shows a predominance of blues and greens with frequent areas of low-toned browns and earth yellows as a foil, and occasional touches of bright red. Old-fashioned gold sky, but without the conventional cloud-forms. Here Bahram, instead of bringing down his sword on the dragon's head, shoots an arrow from a distance while his horse rears in fright. The landscape is wilder, and the dragon poised to spring crouches against the tree, no easy victim. Behind on the horizon instead of two casual spectators there is only a wild ass, which certainly intensifies the solitary feat of the king. The varied hues in the purple rocks are shaded naturalistically, and the scene is intensely felt. Basil Gray compares it with another illustration of the same subject, also in British Museum. -- 5.125 x 3.5625".
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Archives Series
Date created
1961
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This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.
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