Mongols and Painting under the Jala'ir

Miniatures

III- Mongols and Painting under the Jala'ir

Between 1218 and 1220, the Mongols under Jenghis Khan swept into Western Asia. Though their invasion was neither as complete nor as immediate as is often believed, by the late 13th century Mongol states ruled all the way from Mesopotamia to China. In the field of painting the Mongol invasions had important consequences. In Mamluk Syria and Egypt, the Mesopotamian tradition of manuscript illustration was concentrated. In Anatolia, Mongol overlordship after 1243 stifled architectural and artistic patronage. Most of the states in Anatolia and Central Asia were not fruitful in terms of manuscripts during that time, therefore it was Iran and Mesopotamia that major artistic developments occured, on a scale which far surpassed anything of earlier centuries. The schools of Tabriz and Shiraz are presented in this page. Most of the depicted illustrations are from Shah-nama's (book of kings) of different rulers and important personalities including Zal, Simurgh, Iskandar, Isfandiyar, Munichir and Bahram Gur.

Summer Landscape
From the Sarai Albums.
Tabriz, middle of 14th century.
Hazine 2153, folio 68a

Winter Landscape
From the Sarai Albums.
Tabriz, middle of 14th century.
Hazine 2153, folio 28a

Abduction of Zal by the Simurgh
Shah-nama.
From the Sarai Albums
Tabriz, ca. 1370
Hazine 2153, folio 23a

Isfandiyar fights with the Wolves
Shah-nama.
From the Sarai Albums
Tabriz, ca. 1370
Hazine 2153, folio 73b

The Simurgh taking Zal back to its nest on Mount Demavend
Shah-nama (Firdawsi's 'Book of Kings').
Tabriz, 1370.
Hazine 2153, folio 23a

Iskandar and the wolves in a winter landscape
Shah-nama (Firdawsi's 'Book of Kings').
Shams-al Din, Tabriz, 1370.
Hazine 2153, folio 157a

Isfandiyar fights with the Dragon
Shah-nama.
From the Sarai Albums
Tabriz, second half of 14th century
Hazine 2153, folio 157a

Episode from a Battle between the Iranians and the Turanians
Shah-nama.
From the Sarai Albums
Tabriz, second half of 14th century
Hazine 2153, folio 52b-53a

King Minuchihr of Iran kills the fleeing Turanians
Shah-nama.
From the Sarai Albums
Tabriz, second half of 14th century
Hazine 2153, folio 102a

Bahram Gur's Combat with the Dragon
Shah-nama.
Shiraz, 1370.
Hazine 1151, folio 206b

	Summer Landscape From the Sarai Albums. Tabriz, middle of 14th century. Hazine 2153, folio 68a
	Winter Landscape From the Sarai Albums. Tabriz, middle of 14th century. Hazine 2153, folio 28a
	Abduction of Zal by the Simurgh Shah-nama. From the Sarai Albums Tabriz, ca. 1370 Hazine 2153, folio 23a
	Isfandiyar fights with the Wolves Shah-nama. From the Sarai Albums Tabriz, ca. 1370 Hazine 2153, folio 73b
	The Simurgh taking Zal back to its nest on Mount Demavend Shah-nama (Firdawsi's 'Book of Kings'). Tabriz, 1370. Hazine 2153, folio 23a
	Iskandar and the wolves in a winter landscape Shah-nama (Firdawsi's 'Book of Kings'). Shams-al Din, Tabriz, 1370. Hazine 2153, folio 157a
	Isfandiyar fights with the Dragon Shah-nama. From the Sarai Albums Tabriz, second half of 14th century Hazine 2153, folio 157a
	Episode from a Battle between the Iranians and the Turanians Shah-nama. From the Sarai Albums Tabriz, second half of 14th century Hazine 2153, folio 52b-53a
	King Minuchihr of Iran kills the fleeing Turanians Shah-nama. From the Sarai Albums Tabriz, second half of 14th century Hazine 2153, folio 102a
	Bahram Gur's Combat with the Dragon Shah-nama. Shiraz, 1370. Hazine 1151, folio 206b