Persian miniature painting of the Timurid period

Timeline

1. c. 1370–1390Samarkand · SamarkandAfter founding his state, Timur inherited the Ilkhanid book illustration tradition, continuing fine lines, gold-leaf decoration, and narrative composition in court workshops, laying the foundation for the Herat school.
2. c. 1395–1447Herat · HeratShahrukh moved the capital to Herat and patronized large-scale illustration of great works such as the Shahnameh, forming a court miniature paradigm of vivid color and elegant figures, blending Central Asian and Chinese painting elements.
3. c. 1469–1506Herat · HeratMasters such as Behzad brought perspective, spatial layering, and psychological characterization of figures to maturity at the court of Husayn Bayqara, establishing the classic aesthetic standards of Timurid miniatures.
4. c. 1501–1700Isfahan · IsfahanTimurid painters and styles spread to Safavid Persia and Mughal India, forming regional variants, with the Herat paradigm becoming a common reference for later Islamic court painting.