Islamic Art Studies

Islamic Art Studies

Examining Symbolic Elements in the Painting of Siavash Passing Through Fire in the Shahnameh of Tahmasp

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Fereshteh Mottaghi- Omandani
Department of Graphics, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
10.22034/ias.2023.410152.2264
Abstract
The passage of Siavash through fire represents the proof of his innocence against the devilish temptation of Sudabeh, the wife of Kaykavus, depicted in the Shahnameh of Tahmasp by Abdolvahab in the Second Tabriz School. Decoding the visual elements of this painting, with the aim of understanding the painter's perspective in creating such an innovative work for greater audience comprehension and the dominant ideology of the Safavid society, has been a subject that the painter addressed in this work with numerous innovations. The objective of the present research is to identify the hidden aspects within the visual elements of this painting preserved in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, as well as to examine the element of fire and light within it. In this study, the author attempts to analyze the specific painting related to this subject in this exceptional manuscript through documentary studies and a descriptive-analytical method. The questions are: What symbols has the painter employed in the painting of Siavash Passing Through Fire in the Shahnameh of Tahmasp? What concepts are associated with light and fire in this painting? The findings indicate that the painter, with an understanding of the prevailing societal atmosphere and the hidden concepts and symbols within the painting, in a way elevated his work beyond mere illustration. In this regard, the audience, through observing realism, color, surface, and other visual elements, derives understandings beyond the surface. The symbols in the painting are rooted, on one hand, in ancient culture and, on the other, correspond with the literature and ideology of the contemporary society. Furthermore, the use of gold to depict fire has bestowed an Abrahamic-like sanctity and luminosity upon this illustration, and Siavash's innocence is displayed with emphasis on the white color of his garment.
Research Objectives:


Identifying the hidden aspects within the visual elements of the painting of Siavash Passing Through Fire preserved in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp.


Examining the element of fire and light in the painting of Siavash Passing Through Fire preserved in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp.


Research Questions:


What symbols has the painter employed in the painting of Siavash Passing Through Fire in the Shahnameh of Tahmasp?


What concepts are associated with light and fire in the painting of Siavash Passing Through Fire in the Shahnameh of Tahmasp?
Keywords
Safavid Era
Persian Miniature
Shahnameh of Tahmasp
Second Tabriz School
Painting of Siavash Passing Through Fire

Subjects

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