Rostam Kills Alkus in Battle

Location: Aga Khan Museum, Toronto. Formerly in the Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Collection, no. Ir.M 43/A.
Dimensions: Welch gives the dimensions as 30.5 x 20.3 cm. without specifying whether it is the dimensions of the page or painting.

Welch has included this page with others from ms.E, then in the Collection of Prince Saddrudin Aqa Khan, claiming it to be another page from the manuscript, and the painting by Moʿin.

The lack of a number identification in the margin and absence of a signature however, makes one suspicious that this page may not be from manuscript E as Welch had thought. Furthermore the ruled frame is of a different color striping than the other pages, and the text is apparently written on a 26 line per page matrix rather than the 30 lines of the other pages. The pudgy faces and squat figures lacking in animation are far removed from Moʿin's more flamboyant representations.

The painting is definitely not by Moʿin. It also seems questionable that this page is from manuscript E.

Painting references:
Welch, AK2_1972, Ir.M.43/A (ill.)

Text references:
Warner, II, pp. 114-15; Mohl, II, pp. 51-52.

Photo courtesy of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan

Robert Eng
Last Updated: May 27, 2013 | Originally published: May 27, 2013