Persian Miniature Painting

Timeline

1. c. 1180–1210Baghdad · IraqBefore the Mongol invasions, the book illustration art of cities such as Baghdad already exhibited fine lines and decorative composition, laying technical and thematic foundations for the maturation of Persian miniatures in the 13th century.
2. 1211–1220Persian Plateau · PersiaIn the early 13th century, Persian painting continued to develop on the eve of the Mongol conquest, absorbing pre-Islamic Persian and Arab illustration traditions; compositions tended toward flatness and decoration, preparing for the explosion of miniatures in the Ilkhanid period.
3. c. 1250–1350Tabriz · Azerbaijan ProvinceDuring the Ilkhanate, Tabriz became the center of miniature painting; illustrations in great works such as Rashid al-Din's Jami' al-Tawarikh blended Mongol, Chinese, Persian, and Arab elements, establishing the miniature as the standard visual language of court and scholarly books.
4. c. 1370–1500Herat · KhurasanIn the Timurid period, schools such as the Herat school emerged; Persian miniatures further advanced in figure modeling, spatial treatment, and narrative, influencing painting in Central and South Asia for centuries.