Rostam's Seventh Feat: He Slays the White Demon

Location: Current whereabouts unknown
Page: 35.2 x 21.5 cm.
Painting: 20.0 x 18 cm.
Text area: 28.5 x 14.3 cm.
Signature Centered in the lower margin, raqam-e kamina moʿin-e moṣavver.

This illustration is the first in the chronological sequence of the Shahnama to be removed from the David Collection manuscript. It portrays the final stage of Rostam, who rescued Kay Kāvos from the White Div. Kay Kāvos was blinded while being held captive and the only cure was the blood of the liver of the White Div. Here, Rostam eviscerates the div whom he has apprehended in a cave while his king stands tied to a tree at the right. As mentioned earlier, this composition differs minimally from an earlier version attributed to Moʿin in a Shahnama with illustrations by various artists (Ms A, f.79a).

Painting references:
Sotheby's London 30 April 2003 lot 31
Canby_ Journal_2010, p.64 no.8 and fig.5.

Text references:
Warner, II, pp.59-61; Mohl, I, p.426.

Photo: courtesy of Sotheby's

Sheila R. Canby
Last Updated: March 10, 2014 | Previously published Eng: March 17, 2011 | Originally published Canby: 2010