A Comparative Study of the Use of Color in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and the Illustrations of Shah Tahmasp's Shahnameh

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Archaeology, Tabrizi Islamic Art University

2 Master's degree graduate, department of Visual arts, Tabriz Islamic Art University, Tabriz, Iran.

3 assistant professor, Department of architecture, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran.

10.30480/vaa.2025.5524.1944

Abstract

The Shahnameh of Shah Tahmaspi, illustrated during the Safavid era, transforms Ferdowsi's Shahnameh—a 4th-century AH epic poem—into visual art. One of the significant questions in this field concerns the extent of the connection between Shah Tahmaspi's Shahnameh and Ferdowsi's original text. This research addresses the following questions: What are the uses and functions of color in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and the illustrations of Shah Tahmaspi's Shahnameh? What similarities, harmonies, and differences exist between the colors used in the illustrations of Shah Tahmaspi's Shahnameh and those described in the text of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh? The findings of this study reveal that both Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and Shah Tahmaspi's Shahnameh utilize color to create mental imagery for the audience, enhancing their understanding of the events, especially in the epic narratives of Ferdowsi's work. This use of color stimulates the reader's emotions, fostering deeper engagement and attachment to the stories. Additionally, the study shows that color in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh serves a more symbolic function compared to its use in the illustrations of Shah Tahmaspi's Shahnameh.

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