Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
In the first instalment of our new Peer Perspective series, Dr. Sheila Canby, the MET's curator emerita of Islamic Art, explores how an artist behind the extraordinary Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp captured a dynamic scene featuring the hero Rustam. Discover how Muzaffar ‘Ali’s clever depiction of animals in motion foreshadows Rustam’s capture of Akvan, a demon disguised as an onager or wild ass.
To learn more about the artwork (accession number AKM162): agakhanmuseum.org/collection/artifact/rustam-pursues-akvan-the-onager-div-akm162
The Museum’s Peer Perspective series features fascinating commentary and little-known facts from globally recognized scholars who have helped us open new windows on the masterworks in our Collection.
Bringing online Museum experiences to you is part of our mission to connect cultures and promote understanding between peoples. To learn more about how you can support the Museum by making a donation or becoming a Friend or Patron, please visit: agakhanmuseum.org/support
In the first instalment of our new Peer Perspective series, Dr. Sheila Canby, the MET's curator emerita of Islamic Art, explores how an artist behind the extraordinary Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp captured a dynamic scene featuring the hero Rustam. Discover how Muzaffar ‘Ali’s clever depiction of animals in motion foreshadows Rustam’s capture of Akvan, a demon disguised as an onager or wild ass.
To learn more about the artwork (accession number AKM162): agakhanmuseum.org/collection/artifact/rustam-pursues-akvan-the-onager-div-akm162
The Museum’s Peer Perspective series features fascinating commentary and little-known facts from globally recognized scholars who have helped us open new windows on the masterworks in our Collection.
Bringing online Museum experiences to you is part of our mission to connect cultures and promote understanding between peoples. To learn more about how you can support the Museum by making a donation or becoming a Friend or Patron, please visit: agakhanmuseum.org/support
