An illustrated and illuminated leaf from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnameh: Bizhan fighting Human, Persia, Qazwin, Safavid, last quarter 16th century

gouache and ink heightened with gold on paper, 6 lines to the page above and below the painting written in nasta'liq in black ink within 4 columns, ruled in gold, red and black, recto with 13 lines to the page arranged horizontally and vertically, a heading in red nasta'liq on a gold illuminated panel

painting: 26.1 by 17.1cm. max.

leaf: 35.6 by 24.1cm.