A Newfound Illustrated Shahnameh (Called Shahname Shamlou) From the Safavid Era Belongs to the Library of the Niavaran Palace-Museum, Tehran

The Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) is a long epic poem written by the Iranian poet Ferdowsi between c. 977 and 1010. This literary masterpiece، which tells the mythical and somehow the historical past of the Persian Empire، was always been the center of attention of the royal courts، the governors، the cultural people، artists and especially the painters. This book is been more than any other literary work in Iran illustrated. The several ever known valuable manuscripts of this book were always the criterion for other painters. The illustrations of Shahnameh، of the same weight of the poems، have introduced the epic message of Ferdowsi to other countries and cultures all over the world. Several illustrated versions of Shahnameh are now in the most important art collections in the world، some of which have so far remained unknown. The illustrated Shahnameh which will be introduced in this article is an unknown and newfound manuscript. This manuscript was previously belonged to the Office of Farah Pahlavi (the former Queen of Iran) and on the occasion of the fiftieth year of Pahlavi Dynasty، on the day of the Iranian New Year (1976) had been awarded by Farah Pahlavi to the Mohammadreza Shah. But it is not clear، how، where from and through which dealer it had been brought to the royal court. This manuscript that was not allowed to access till many years after the Islamic Revolution (1979) had been so far not studied by any researcher and therefore it has been remained unknown. But because of its resorted cover and the high quality of its paintings and more other indications، it could be realized، that this manuscript was in the former times a part of the royal library of the Qajar Dynasty. After the Islamic Revolution it has been brought and kept in the royal library of the Niavaran Palace-Museum. From the notes of the scribe on the last page، it can be proofed that this manuscript was ordered in 1008 AH in Herat by “Hassan Khan-e Shamlou” (the governor of Herat from 1007 to 1028 AH). These study، in addition to introducing these manuscript and its miniatures، names it as “Shahnameh-e Shamlou”. Shahnameh-e Shamlou has totally 44 no signature miniatures، tow illustrated inscriptions on the first page and tow spandrel on the last page. This manuscript is written by “Jani Ibn- e Mohammad-e Quasem-e Mo’men”، called “Asah-e Kirmani”، has 456 sheets of 25 × 38/5 cm and is written on “Dowlatabadi” paper. The miniatures are illustrated of the Isfahan painting style in the early eleventh century AH and probably had more than one illustrator. On some Paintings the figures of women are taller than their usual proportions and also taller than men. On some other paintings، as the usual painting style of Isfahan school، some pet animals like dogs and cats can be seen. Skilful illustration، elegantly drawing and painting and masterly co