Art, Allegory and the Rise of Shi’ism in Iran, 1487-1565

Chad Kia

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2019

Art, Allegory and the Rise of Shi’ism in Iran, 1487-1565

Chad Kia

In the series Edinburgh Studies in Classical Islamic History and Culture

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474450416

Overview
Contents

About this book

Explores the ways in which esoteric religion shaped the masterpieces of classical Persian painting

Transforming our understanding of Persian art, this impressive interdisciplinary book decodes some of the world’s most exquisite medieval paintings. It reveals the hidden meaning behind enigmatic figures and scenes that have puzzled modern scholars, focusing on five ‘miniature’ paintings. Chad Kia shows how the cryptic elements in these works of art from Timurid Persia conveyed the mystical teachings of Sufi poets like Rumi, Attar and Jami, and heralded one of the most significant events in the history of Islam: the takeover by the Safavids in 1501 and the conversion of Iran to Shiism.

Key features

Interprets celebrated but enigmatic paintings from collections in the Metropolitan Museum, the British Library and the Freer Gallery
Brings poetry and art together in a transformative reading of Persian illustrated manuscripts
Bridges art history, literature and religion to reconsider Shia and Safavid cultural and intellectual history
Connects Persian figural painting to the rise of the Safavids and Shiism in Iran

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
List of Plates Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Introduction: Coming to Terms with Meaning in Persian Painting Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Poetics of the Picture: Verbal Imagery and Visual Language Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	21
2. Remaking Persian Painting: Didactic Sufism in a Timurid Manuscript Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	47
3. The Third Station on the Path to Sufism: ‘The Bearded Man Drowning’ Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	75
4. Fixed-figure Prototypes and the Symbolic Order Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	103
5. The Culmination of a Trend: ‘Depraved Man Commits Bestiality’ 135 Conclusion: The Sufi Synthesis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	135
Conclusion: The Sufi Synthesis Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	168
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	172
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	235
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	288

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 304
Illustrations
- Other: 12 colour illustrations
Keywords: Islamic Studies

eBook

Published: March 24, 2022
ISBN: 9781474450416