An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Iskandar (Alexander the Great) Battling the Zangic. 1550
Page from the 'Shah Nama'; illustration of Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) subduing the Africans; depiction of a realistic sixteenth-century Islamic battle
Gold, colors, and ink on paper
Iran
Safavid period (1501-1736)
Bequest of Mrs. Margaret McMillan Webber in memory of her mother, Katherine Kittredge McMillan
In the shimmering light of a golden landscape, the image of a mighty king emerges, a silhouette of strength and valor. This is Alexander the Great, known to the Persian people as Iskandar, a figure who transcended time and myth. His story echoes through the pages of the Shahnameh, the grand epic that narrates the triumphs of heroes and the downfall of dynasties. Here, amidst the rich tapestry of history, Iskandar rises not only as a conqueror of the Achaemenid dynasty but also as a symbol of a great Iranian King, whose tales have become larger than life.
The scene captured on the canvas is vibrant and dynamic, bursting forth from a background sprinkled with gold, a color that often represents divinity and greatness. The artist, hand-crafted from the heart of the Safavid era, bathes the imagery in the warmth of contemporary battle, infusing each stroke with a flurry of movement. Iskandar, astride his steed, rallies his loyal army, prepared to defend the shores of Egypt from the looming threat of the Zangi—an encompassing term for the peoples of the Swahili coast of East Africa.
The intensity of the moment is palpable, as swords gleam and shields clash, the air thick with the spirit of valor that reverberates through each figure. The composition, striking with its dramatic vertical thrust, invites the viewer to not just observe but to step into the midst of that historic fervor. Each detail—the glint of armor, the billow of cloth, the energy of combat—offers not only a representation of a battle but a glimpse into a world where history dances with myth, where legends are forged not just in victory but in the tales that survive the sands of time.
In this moment frozen in time, Alexander stands not merely as a king but as a testament to the human story—a tale of courage, ambition, and the enduring idea that even the greatest of heroes are often shaped by the exaggerations and dreams of those who come long after they have departed.
About the artist
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