Illuminated Persian Romance in verse

Tabrizi, Shams al-Din Muhammad 'Assar. Mihr-o Mushtari.

€ 45,000.00

The work for which the Persian poet Shams al-Din Muhammad 'Assar Tabrizi (ca. 1325-82) won his share of fame, stunningly illuminated in gold leaf, blue, orange, green, and lilac, with floral borders and drawn in detailed, delicate style.

"Mihr-o Mushtari", a Persian romance in verse, follows many archetypes of that genre (a couple is separated by great geographic distance, encounters rivals, and must overcome trials to be reunited), and was especially influenced by the versified romances written by Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209), particularly following the model of the romance of "Krosrow o Sirin", a fictionalized narrative of the doomed romance of the Sasanian king Khosrow II and the Armenian princess Shirin. 'Assar Tabrizi's romance follows similar tropes and poetic forms but introduces an original story, one which follows a courtly or spiritual relationship between Mihr, the son of King Shapur of Istakhr, and Mushtari, the vizier's son, on various adventures and misadventures. Spanning ninety chapters and 5,120 verses in the hazaj mosaddas maqsur (or mahduf metre), the pair face many challenges and separations, but remain dedicated to each other.

Five large and finely rendered paintings illustrate important moments in the narrative, painted with a skillful hand. Signed at the colophon by the scribe Hasan al-Sharif.

Light wear; miniatures have been subject to some light smudging; paper repairs to some leaves. Overall a strikingly beautiful copy, with each page uniquely illuminated.

Provenance: 20th century Parisian private collection, kept in the family for several generations and dispersed in 2022.