Nizami. <em>Bahram Gur Visits the Dome of Piruza on Wednesday, Page from the Haft paykar (Seven Portraits), from a manuscript of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (d. 1209)</em>, 16th century. Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, 10 1/8 x 5 11/16 in. (25.7 x 14.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 36.273.2 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.273.2_PS2.jpg)

Nizami. Bahram Gur Visits the Dome of Piruza on Wednesday, Page from the Haft paykar (Seven Portraits), from a manuscript of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (d. 1209), 16th century. Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, 10 1/8 x 5 11/16 in. (25.7 x 14.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 36.273.2 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.273.2_PS2.jpg)

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Bahram Gur Visits the Dome of Piruza on Wednesday, Page from the Haft paykar (Seven Portraits), from a manuscript of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (d. 1209)

Arts of the Islamic World

The Haft Paykar, or Seven Portraits, is the fourth of the five narrative poems of the Khamsa of Nizami, and tells the story of the legendary fifth-century Sasanian king Bahram Gur. The tale is believed to contain the poet’s own views on love and emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge. Raised at the court of an Arab king, Bahram Gur one day found his way into a locked palace room, where he encountered seven portraits of seven princesses representing the seven climes of antiquity. After becoming king, Bahram Gur took these “seven beauties” as brides and built each a domed pavilion. He visited each of his brides on successive days of the week, dressed in robes that matched the color associated with each pavilion. In this painting, Bahram Gur wears a blue robe and is seated in the Turquoise Pavilion of Princess Piruza (Persian for “turquoise”).

AUTHOR Nizami

MEDIUM Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper

DATES 16th century

DYNASTY Safavid

PERIOD Safavid

DIMENSIONS 10 1/8 x 5 11/16 in. (25.7 x 14.5 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Islamic World

ACCESSION NUMBER 36.273.2

CREDIT LINE By exchange

EXHIBITIONS

Light of the Sufis: The Mystical Arts of Islam

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Nizami. Bahram Gur Visits the Dome of Piruza on Wednesday, Page from the Haft paykar (Seven Portraits), from a manuscript of the Khamsa (Quintet) of Nizami (d. 1209), 16th century. Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, 10 1/8 x 5 11/16 in. (25.7 x 14.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 36.273.2 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 36.273.2_PS2.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 36.273.2_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009

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