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The Heroic Rustam
First half of the 8th century
Wall painting on plaster
H 100 cm
Once part of a 12-metre long painted frieze,
showing a series of exploits performed by a hero
dressed in a leopard skin caftan, this fragment
depicts our hero seated on a red horse with a white
blaze and socks. On the basis of the man's attire,
the breed of his horse and the exploits he is
performing, scholars have identified him as Rustam,
a character found in medieval Persian epics and in
part of a later poem by the great Firdausi, the
Shahnama.
The frieze formed part of the decoration of a palace
reception room (the Blue Hall), which contained
paintings relating to other literary works. The
background is the colour of lapis lazuli, creating the
impression of endless space, and contrasts with the
predominantly earth colours of the figures. Typical
features of Pendjikent 7th- and 8th-century
figurative painting - which had much in common
stylistically with Soghdian metalwork of the period
- are the powerfully drawn forms, the lightness and
elegance of the movements, the combination of
strong shoulders with a wasp waist, and of delicate
hands with long supple fingers.
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