Persian Miniature Painting

Timeline

1. c. 1200–1250Shiraz and Baghdad · IranIn the late Seljuk period on the eve of the Mongol invasions, early Persian miniature styles took shape in Shiraz and Baghdad, characterized by decorative line work and narrative manuscript illustration.
2. c. 1260–1270Tabriz · IranThe Ilkhanate, founded by Hulegu, brother of Kublai Khan, had Tabriz as its capital; under court patronage, illustration of great works such as the Rashidnama began, fusing Chinese pictorial perspective with Persian decorative traditions.
3. c. 1400–1450Herat · AfghanistanUnder masters such as Bihzad, the Herat workshop of the Timurid Empire brought the miniature to a classical peak, with balanced compositions and elegant figures, influencing the pictorial language across the eastern Islamic world.
4. c. 1500–1600Isfahan and Qazvin · IranThe Safavid court at Isfahan continued and innovated the miniature tradition; album pages and single works became diplomatic gifts, and its style reached South Asia through the Mughal court.