Module 6 Art Work Analysis

 

King Gayumars, Siyamak, and Hushang (detail), Sultan Muhammad, The Court of Gayumars, c. 1522,

47 x 32 cm, opaque watercolor, ink, gold, silver on paper, folio 20v, Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp I(Safavid), Tabriz, Iran (Aga Khan Museum, Toronto)

https://smarthistory.org/arches-the-court-of-gayumars/

This is a watercolor painting that is part of a series of manuscripts that was done by not one or a couple artistit but after reading about it by a team of artists. The team of artists all had a specialty. The painting was originally done in 1522. This painting is about the Persian culture. From reading about the painting it happens to be one of the most famous from its time.

There is a lot going on in this painting at first glance filled with color and immense details in every stroke. This painting is known for being eye-catching. At the center is the King Gayumar sitting on a mountain criss cross applesauce The rest of the painting seems to revolve around him. Two other primary figures one to his left one to his right on their own mountains under him. Under the king is a waterfall where animals gather. People surround the king along the borders of the painting, almost in an oval shape. There is such a wide variety of colors in this painting you almost would just have to see it as describing it does it no justice. You have dark to light blues, dark purples to light purples, Earth greens and browns and my favorite is true gold. When looking at this painting it's important to point out it is a manuscript. The background is beige with flakes of gold on it then a hand painted border is done but the painting flows out of this border into the beige gold flaked background.

The Two things I want to analyze are the use of patterns and the use of spacing. If you look at this painting you can see multiple patterns within it from the trees, to the gold flakes to the mountains and the visible air. For the spacing I'm talking about how everything is revolving around the King in the center.

This painting to me is a sense of harmony and shows everyone and everything getting along. This includes the king and everyone in the kingdom, along with the animals and nature that surrounds them. This is truly a paradise.

Demerdash, Dr. Nancy, Dr. Nancy Demerdash, Dr. Filiz Çakir Phillip, and Dr. Michael Chagnon. “The Court of Gayumars.” Smarthistory. Accessed February 19, 2021. https://smarthistory.org/arches-the-court-of-gayumars/.