Mohammad, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam 

Edmund Dulac's "Mohammad," from "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam", presents a scene steeped in symbolic richness. The central figure, a Sultan, is surrounded by attendants, the room littered with scrolls that hint at the weight of knowledge and the burdens of power. Notice the peacock feather fan held by the attendant, a symbol of immortality and incorruptibility in Persian tradition. This symbol harkens back to ancient Roman art, where peacocks adorned imperial imagery, and further back to ancient Egypt, where they were associated with royalty and divinity. Here, its presence evokes a sense of timelessness. The Sultan's pensive posture carries a deeper, almost melancholic weight. It reminds me of depictions of the philosopher-king, burdened by the responsibilities of governance. Dulac masterfully evokes the complex interplay between worldly power and the search for deeper meaning, a dynamic that resonates across cultures and centuries. The viewer is drawn into a contemplation of power, mortality, and the enduring quest for enlightenment.