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Manuscript A2

Page size: 30.5 x 18.5 cm.
Text area: 19.7 x 10.6 cm.
Text: written in nastaʿliq, four columns, 31 lines per page
Folios: 451
Paintings: 50 total, of which only nine have been illustrated in print and/or on the web. Three of these nine, although unsigned, might be considered the early work of Moʿin Moṣavver. Of the remaining six paintings that have been previously illustrated, one has been signed by Reżā Moṣavver, and the rest might also be attributed to him. To date the Naional Library has not been responsive to our inquiries regarding this manuscript; accordingly we are unable to confirm if any of the 41 unpublished paintings in the manuscript might also be attributed to Moʿin Moṣavver.

Location:
St. Petersburgh, National Library of Russia, ms. PNS 381

Dating:
Most sources date the manuscript generally to mid-17th century. Farhad dates it 1650-60. We feel more comfortable with an earlier dating, circa 1640-45.

Provenence:
PNS 381 was a gift from Ābbās Mirzā to Czar Alexander I, who had deposied it in the Hermitage Library. In 1861, the manuscript was transferred from the Hermitage to the National Library by order of Alexander II, where it has remained until this day.
(Provenenence information after Charles Melville, Cambridge Shahnameh Project)

Bibliography:
Giuzalian & Diakonov, Leningrad_1935, pp.83-85 nos.46-48
Afrashi, Tajik_1974, pp.112-13 nos. 94 and 95
Farhad, Mirror_1990, p.127, fn.10 (iv)
Cambridge Shahnameh Project

Robert Eng
Last Updated: June 10, 2016. Originally published: June 10, 2016.