Painting and Miniature

Oriental historian Basil Gray believes “Iran has offered a particularly unique art to the world which is excellent in its kind”.
Caves in Iran’s Lorestan province exhibit painted imagery of animals and hunting scenes. Some such as those in Fars Province and Sialk are at least 5,000 years old.
Painting in Iran is thought to have reached a climax during the Tamerlane era when outstanding masters such as Kamaleddin Behzad gave birth to a new style of painting.
Paintings of the Qajar period, are a combination of European influences and Safavid miniature schools of painting such as those introduced by Reza Abbasi. Masters such as Kamal-ol-molk, further pushed forward the European influence in Iran. It was during the Qajar era when “Coffee House painting” emerged.

A Persian miniature is a small painting, whether a book illustration or a separate work of art intended to be kept in an album of such works. The techniques are broadly comparable to the Western and Byzantine traditions of miniatures in illuminated manuscripts, which probably had an influence on the origins of the Persian tradition. Although there is an equally well-established Persian tradition of wall-painting, the survival rate and state of preservation of miniatures is better, and miniatures are much the best-known form of Persian painting in the West. Miniature painting became a significant Persian form in the 13th century, and the highest point in the tradition was reached in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tradition continued, under some Western influence, after this, and has many modern exponents. The Persian miniature was the dominant influence on other Islamic miniature traditions, principally the Ottoman miniature in Turkey, and the Mughal miniature in the Indian sub-continent.

The themes of Persian miniature are mostly related to Persian mythology and poetry. Western artists discovered the Persian miniature around the beginning of the 20th century. Persian miniatures uses pure geometry and a vivid palette. The allure of Persian miniature painting lies in its absorbing complexities and in the surprising way it speaks to large questions about the nature of art and the perception of its masterpieces.

 

♥ Iranian Masters of Painting and Miniature

 

Kamalud-Din Behzad Herawi: Leading miniaturist of the Timurid era, and founder of the Safavid school. (Click to see his Collection)

Reza Abbasi: One of the most renowned Persian painters in the Safavid era. (Click to see his Collection)

Hossein Behzad: Famous contemporary miniaturist. (Click to see his Collection)

Mahmoud Farshchian: Famous contemporary miniaturist. (Click to see his Collection)

 

♥ Some beautiful ancient Miniatures

 

 

1550 CE Persian miniature painting, depicting the Prophet Muhammad ascending on the Burak into the Heavens, a journey known as the Miraj (Click to see larger foto)

 

Safavid era Miniature painting kept at Shah Abbas Hotel in Isfahan.(Click to see larger foto)

 

Painting from Hasht-Behesht palace, Isfahan, Iran, from 1669 (Click to see larger foto)

Miniature of Harun al-Rashid in Thousand and One Nights

As in Western illuminated manuscripts, exquisitely decorated borders were an integral part of the work of art. First half of 16th century. (Click to see larger foto)

Poetry, wine and gardens are common elements in later works – 1585 (Click to see larger foto)