Folio 538r: The Coronation of the Infant Shapur II

Mehran DHN

The last section of the Shahnama chronicles the reigns of the Sasanian kings of Iran. Here, the tiny infant Shapur, born after the death of his father Hurmuzd II, is depicted seated on an ornately bejeweled throne as his nurse fans him. The artist Muzaffar 'Ali’s lifelong familiarity with the court and his good-natured approach to its denizens inform the portrayal of the servants bearing jewels and gifts for the new king, the chatting courtiers in the foreground, and the elegant ladies who observe from a window above the door.