We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Cyrus administering justice

circa 1585

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    North India → India
    Period
    Mughal Empire circa 1526 - 1857 → India
    Date
    circa 1585
    Media categories
    Manuscripts , Miniature , Watercolour
    Materials used
    opaque watercolour with gold on paper
    Dimensions
    23.9 x 13.0 cm
    Signature & date

    Not signed. Not dated.

    Credit
    Gift of Michael Hobbs 2001
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    334.2001
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    This finely painted miniature depicts the ruler Cyrus the Great, who unified vast territories across the Iranian plateau to form the Achaemenid empire. The format of the manuscript is typically Persian: the image occupies a rectangular band at the centre of the page and is surrounded by four narrow columns of calligraphy. However the stylisation of the figures and the exquisite naturalistic rendering of their faces is characteristically Mughal, showing the Indian adaptation of the Persian miniature painting form.

    The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.37.

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 1 exhibition

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 1 publication