What is Persian miniature painting? Schools, techniques, famous works

What is Persian miniature?

Persian miniature (negargari) is a tradition of small, finely detailed paintings, originally made to illustrate books such as the Shahnameh and Khamseh. It uses flat, bright colours, high viewpoints and no single-point perspective.

Major schools

• Ilkhanid (Tabriz): Chinese-influenced landscapes
• Timurid (Herat): Kamal-ud-Din Behzad's refined compositions
• Safavid (Tabriz, Qazvin, Isfahan): the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp and Reza Abbasi's single figures
• Contemporary: Mahmoud Farshchian and his school

Technique

Painters use mineral and organic pigments bound with gum arabic, fine squirrel-hair brushes and burnished paper. Gold is applied by hand. Borders are often decorated with illumination (tazhib).

Famous works

The Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, the Khamseh of Nizami made for Shah Tahmasp, and Behzad's Bustan of Saadi are among the best-known.

Buying tips

Many 'miniatures' sold to visitors are prints or painted over prints. Use a magnifier to look for brushstrokes, and ask the artist's name. Paintings on bone or camel bone should be clearly labelled.