"Ismail I kills a bear", from Bijan’s Tarikh-i Jahangusha-yi Khaqan Sahibqiran, Iran, Isfahan; end of the 1680s

Three miniatures from bijan’s tarikh-i jahangusha-yi khaqan sahibqiran (a history of shah ismail i) iran, isfahan; end of the 1680s leaf: 35. 9 × 23. 5 cm these three paintings were made by muin musawwir, riza-i abbasi’s best-known pupil, who in the course of his long career illustrated at least six editions of the shahnama – one of which is in the david collection – along with two or three editions of bijan’s posthumous, historical text about the founder of the safavid dynasty, shah ismail. Only one of the paintings was signed by muin, and it is possible that he had help on the work from his pupils. The first and perhaps most charming shows the moment at which ismail kills an enormous bear in 1500. The deadly situation loses some of its seriousness by being enacted in an almost rococo, pink landscape. Inv. No. 28/1986. Date: end of the 1680s.