Bijan killing the wild boars of Irman, from a Shah-nama (Book of Kings) of Firdausi (Persian, about 934–1020) (verso)

The work is a miniature painting illustrating the episode of Bijan confronting wild boars, a scene taken from the Persian epic Shah‑nama. Executed on the verso of a folio, the image presents a mounted warrior amid a rocky, grassy terrain under a pale sky illuminated by a golden sun.

The narrative portrays Bijan, a heroic figure, engaged in a perilous hunt, symbolizing bravery and the triumph of order over chaos. The surrounding Persian verses, inscribed in neat columns, echo the literary source and reinforce the moral dimension of the tale.

Rendered with delicate brushwork, the miniature employs a restrained palette of earthy reds, muted greens, and soft blues, punctuated by gold highlights that accentuate the sun and ornamental details. The composition balances figure and landscape, while the black ink border frames the scene with calligraphic precision.

Created for a patron named Prince Salim, the piece reflects the courtly patronage typical of the period. Although the Shah‑nama was compiled between the 10th and 11th centuries, the illustration itself dates from a later manuscript tradition that continued to copy and embellish the epic.