[Shah Tahmasp]

The story of the prophet Zakariya (a conflation of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, and the Old Testament prophet Zachariah), who according to Muslim legend died a martyr's death. Escaping his pursuers by hiding in a tree that miraculously opened to admit him, Zakariya was betrayed by Iblis, the devil, who pointed out the hem of the prophet's cloak protruding from the trunk. The devil's forces sawed the tree apart and with it Zakariya, whose saintly aura is shown as flames bursting among the leaves.

Year: 1550-1560

From: from a dispersed copy of the Falnama (Book of Omens)

Location: Worcester Art Museum



Edited by: Chiara Petrolini


Related Documents:

Anonymous / Unknown

The Sacrifice of Isaac [1581]

from: Ishâq al-Nishâpûrî, Histoire du Coran ou Histoires des prophètes et des rois du passé. Qesas al-anbiyâ [Persan 54, fol. 32v]

Paris, BnF, ms Persan 54 fol. 32v

Anonymous / Unknown

Zacharias sawn in half in a tree (1570-1580)

from: Qazwin, Iran

Dallas Museum of Art (Keir Collection), Dallas K.1.2014.1166 (III.278) folio: 231r