Artwork
The spy Tayir enters a fort to release the captive Faizlan Shah.
The spy Tayir enters a fort to release the captive Faizlan Shah. is a paint painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1570 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Hamzanama, or 'Book of Hamza' was commissioned by the great Mughal emperor Akbar in the mid-16th century.
About this work
Overview
This particular episode involves Tayir rescuing the captive Faizlan Shah from a fort held by fire-worshippers.
The illustration depicts the spy Tayir entering a fortified city gate, accompanied by a small dog, while women observe from windows and a couple converses inside, all reacting with surprise. The scene is part of the Hamzanama, an epic commissioned by Mughal emperor Akbar in the mid-16th century, chronicling the adventures of Hamza and his band against their enemies. This particular episode involves Tayir rescuing the captive Faizlan Shah from a fort held by fire-worshippers.
The painting is one of fewer than 200 surviving illustrations from the originally 1,400-image manuscript, with the narrative reconstructed from Persian text on the reverse.
Artist & collection
