Artwork
Page of disasters, from the Tarikh-i Alfi (History of a Thousand Years)
Page of disasters, from the Tarikh-i Alfi (History of a Thousand Years) is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The accompanying text, written in an unfamiliar script, runs down the left margin, linking the images to the narrative of the manuscript.
The illuminated page, taken from the Persian chronicle *Tarikh-i Alfi* (History of a Thousand Years), presents a densely populated tableau of miniature scenes rendered in vivid pigments. Arranged in a horizontal sequence, the composition juxtaposes solemn rituals, architectural interiors, and violent clashes, all set against a background of saturated reds, blues and gold leaf. The accompanying text, written in an unfamiliar script, runs down the left margin, linking the images to the narrative of the manuscript.
Subject & Meaning
The leftmost vignette depicts a funeral gathering, with mourners surrounding a coffin, some arguing, others kneeling in prayer, suggesting the social tensions surrounding death. Central to the page is an interior space with arched windows and a solitary figure, perhaps indicating a court or religious setting. To the right, a chaotic melee unfolds near a tower, capped by a horse and rider tumbling amid the fray, illustrating the unpredictability of conflict and the fragility of authority.
Technique & Style
Executed in the Persian miniature tradition, the page employs fine brushwork to delineate intricate details within a compact format. The palette relies on mineral and organic pigments, enhanced by gold leaf that catches light and emphasizes key elements. Narrative sequencing resembles early comic-strip layouts, with each vignette framed by subtle borders that guide the viewer’s eye across the continuous story.
History & Provenance
Created for the *Tarikh-i Alfi*, a historical compendium compiled in the early 17th century, the page reflects the manuscript’s function as both a textual and visual record. The manuscript eventually entered Western collections, and the page now resides in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of Islamic art and illuminated books.
Context
The work belongs to a period when Persian courts commissioned lavishly illustrated histories to legitimize dynastic narratives and to educate elite audiences. Miniature painting served both decorative and didactic purposes, embedding moral and political commentary within visually engaging scenes.
Artist & collection
The parrot addresses Khujasta at the beginning of the thirty-third night, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot)
The astrologer predicts a calamity for the newly born prince in his thirteenth year, but one which he would be able to overcome, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighth Night
Khalis repays the prince for his kindness by changing into a snake and sucking the poison from the king’s daughter, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Eighteenth Night