The hero Rustam and the demoness, from a manuscript of the Shahnama (Book of Kings)

Persian literature, like the Shahnama epic, was popular in India among its Persian-speaking literati. The adventures of the hero Rustam were frequently illustrated, and here we see an inventive depiction of his encounter with a sorceress. According to the story, a long-traveling and exhausted Rustam stumbled upon a lush meadow with a delicious banquet (actually, a picnic for demons). Delighted by this respite, Rustam relaxed, ate, and drank; finding a lute, he began a song. Captivated by his music, the she-demon magically disguised herself as a beautiful young woman and approached Rustam. He saw her and praised God, and that invocation broke the spell.

This painting captures the quick moment of the sorceress’s transformation, with her human face and body made up of animals eloquently expressing the transition. The artist creatively applied the form of a composite figure, which had a long history in Indian painting, to new ends: for conveying the essence of the sorceress’s magical powers, the story’s dramatic action, and narrative time.