'Khusraw and the Lion' painting
1632
Museum number (L.1613-1964)

The twelfth-century poet Nizami's romantic epic describing the love of king Khusraw for the princess Shirin is one of the most popular works in the Persian language. This illustration, from a manuscript of 1632, depicts Khusraw defending Shirin by killing a lion bare-handed. Since this took place at night, the artist - Riza 'Abbasi, the greatest painter at the court of Shah Abbas I (r. 1587-1629) - has shown Khusraw in his night-clothes.