Iran, Isfahan; end of the 1680s

Leaf: 35.8 × 23.4 cm

These three paintings were made by Muin Musawwir, Riza-i Abbasi’s best-known pupil, who in the course of his long career illustrated at least six editions of the Shahnama – one of which is in the David Collection – along with two or three editions of Bijan’s posthumous, historical text about the founder of the Safavid Dynasty, Shah Ismail. Only one of the paintings was signed by Muin, and it is possible that he had help on the work from his pupils.

The next scene shows Shah Ismail at an audience receiving his faithful adherents, the qizilbash (red heads), after they have defeated his opponent Shirvanshah Farrukhsiyar in 1500.