By The Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Herat, Afghanistan
Timur’s defeat of Mamluks during the siege of Damascus, Kamal al-Din BehzadThe Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Under the patronage of the Timurids, whose influence and control extended from the eastern parts of Turkey to Delhi in North India, Herat became a center of artistic production and scientific exploration and an important node for spreading this influence along the Silk Route.
Master of the Workshops
Amongst the many art forms, the production of books and miniature paintings reached its artistic pinnacle under the influence of Kamal al-Din Behzad, who was appointed as the head of the royal ateliers in Herat by Sultan Husayn Bayqara in 1486.
Behzad was born in Herat around 1465, and while little is known about his lineage or childhood, other than that he was orphaned at an early age and raised by the prominent painter and calligrapher Mirak Naqqash, by the age of 21 his work was sufficiently admired to warrant the appointment.
Iskandar, in the likeness of Ḥusayn Bāyqarā, visiting the wise man in a cave, ‘Khamsah’, Niẓami Ganjavi (1490/1499) by British LibraryThe Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Books and miniatures produced by Behzad and his apprentices are amongst the most prized items in private and public collections around the world.
One in particular, illustrating the Khamsah (five poems) by Nizami Ganjavi (1490-99) in the Timurid style, is held by the British Library in London and contains one double and twenty single miniatures that include some of Behzad’s most acclaimed works.
The settings in Behzad’s paintings are generally divided between nature and the built environment and scenes are constructed with an acute understanding of visual composition. Great care and attention are given to form, color, and the texture of animate and inanimate objects.
Behzad’s mastery of color and its use in illustrating carpets, tapestries and the garments worn by his characters bring these depictions to life, directing the viewer’s gaze to critical points in the composition that are important to understanding the narrative.
Timurid architecture and its decorative elements, including intricate geometric and mosaic tile work, feature prominently in these miniatures and provide an opportunity to amplify the dramatic presentation.
Hārūn al-Rashīd and the barber, ‘Khamsah’, Niẓami Ganjavi (1490/1499) by British LibraryThe Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Embellishing the storied lives of kings, heroes, poets, lovers and mystics, these miniature paintings beautifully depict momentous occasions latent with meaning and symbolism.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) wishes to express its appreciation, first and foremost, to its staff and consultants for their tireless efforts and commitment towards preserving Afghanistan’s rich tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
In addition to resources provided directly by AKTC, the restoration of heritage sites shown in this exhibition were supported through financial contributions made by the Federal Republic of Germany, the Government of the United States and its Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
This online exhibition was made possible through the efforts of Theresa zu Leiningen, Mohammad Baqir Yaqubi and Dr. Arash Boostani and with support from Lama Eldesouky and Chance Coughenour of Google Arts.
