Persian miniature is another intangible cultural heritage which is globally registered by UNESCO. This art dates back to Sasanian era when Shapur the Second governed, prophet Mani emerged and created such an art.
Mani, the founder of Persian miniature had his own special style in painting. His works consisted of details of humans’ body. After he was killed in Sasanian era, when Shapur the Second of Sasanian Empire governed, this type of painting was not seen for a long time. After emergence of Islam, this style of painting turned out to be popular between the artists and painters. Since this style pictured the naked humans’ body, the religious leaders started to prevent such a style from developing. But that style which comes from Sasanian era affected arts and paintings which belonged to the interval between seventh and twelfth centuries.
Persian miniature in Seljuks era
Persian miniature painting in Seljuk era became popular so that this popularity distributed in foreign countries specially the ones which used to be Seljuks colonies. Full face with tight mouth and oblique eyes is the main characteristic of the painting style in that age.
Persian miniature in Jalayirid dynasty
After attacking Mongolian on Iranian lands, and Ilkhanid dynasty, that was Jalayirids’ turns to make the miniature popular more than before. They promoted Persian miniature painting in several cities like Tabriz, Baghdad, and Shiraz. The method in different city was different from the paintings created in other cities.
Persian miniature in Muzaffarids dynasty
Muzaffarids dynasty in territories between current Iraq and Fars province made the new method of miniature. After collapsing Seljuks, miniature thrived and some other principles like Tabriz, Baghdad, Shiraz and Mozaffarids emerged. Many Stories, fairy tales, and poems created by famous poets like Ferdowsi, Nezami, Saadi, Hafez, and Jaami used such an art in their manuscripts and art books.
Persian miniature in Teymourian dynasty
As of result attacking Teymour on IRAN, the political and artistic capital has been transported to the north part of the country. At that time, Samarkand and Khorasan changed to the center of miniature and attracted many artists and another method in combination Jalayirid and Muzaffarids miniature has been emerged. Miniaturist pictured the details of art of middle Asia. Baysonghor Shahnameh or epopee is one of the manuscripts was created in these years.
Persian miniature and paintings in Safavid dynasty
Ismaeel the king, the founder of Safavid dynasty, assigned a person named Behzad as the manager of library. During governing of this king, so many manuscripts were created by the artists. During these years, an intriguing manuscript named Tahmasbi Shahnameh with more than 250 illustrations in miniature paintings was emerged. Most of the famous miniaturists emigrated to the other countries like India at that time. Another Shahnameh or epopee, created in Shah Esmaeel the Second era, with 50 miniature illustrations.
Shah Abbas the Second, asked famous artists like Reza Abbasi use their art and paint the governments’ palaces and mosques like Ali Qapu, Hasht Behest, Chehel Sotun, Sheikh Lotfollah mosque, and Abbasi Mosque in Isfahan. If you go to Naqsh-e Jahan square of Isfahan and visit these places mentioned above, you can enjoy visiting 400-year-old and miniatures painted on the walls created by Reza Abbasi.
