Muraqqa Art: Islamic Painting and Calligraphy

• A Muraqqa is an album in book form with Islamic miniature paintings and calligraphy samples, generally from various sources.
• Muraqqa art evolved within the Safavid Persian empire, continued with the Ottomans, and reached its peak in India with the Mughal Dynasty.
• The word "muraqqa" means "that which has been patched together” in Persian.

The Muraqqas: Making

• Muraqqas were often sumptuously bound, utilizing golden coated paint, lacquered paint, and gold stamping on leather.
• The bindings on the albums were designed so items could be added, removed, or repositioned on the page.

The Muraqqas: Purpose

• Albums were frequently given as gifts to commemorate important life events such as weddings, political events, victories in battle, births, and visits.

Famous People

• Ferdousi wrote the Shahnameh.
• Nimazi Ganjavi wrote many Ghazals and novels.
• Rashid ad-Din Fadlallah wrote the Jami al Tawarikh (circa 1300).
• Their work is translated worldwide.

Rashid Ad-Din Fadlallah

• Rashid Ad-Din was a Muslim convert from a Jewish family who studied in Tabriz.
• He was known as a philosopher, theologian, and a man of culture.
• He illustrated history based on his recollections, intertwining legends and stories from all religions in his manuscripts.
• One example is the story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale.
• The Jami al Tawarikh was written by him in 1314 CE.
• Buddhism, the Ranayama, the Jewish and Christian Books, and the Q'ran are among the religions in Rashid Ad-Din's intertwined stories.
• The book is purely historical and lacks religious undertones.

Shahnameh (Book of Kings)

• Ferdouzi wrote and illustrated the Shahnameh in 977 CE, taking 40 years to complete it.
• The Shahnameh is the world's longest epic poem by a single poet.
• The Shahnameh is a poetic account of the prehistory and history of Iran, starting with creation and ending with the Islamic Conquest of Persia.
• The work follows a general movement through time, though it's not precisely chronological, with some characters living for centuries and others having normal lifespans.
• The Shahnameh has been rewritten and re-illustrated throughout history, resulting in many versions made in different time periods by different artists.
• The muraqqa shows Western influences through the use of chiaroscuro, also known as three-dimensionality.
• The influences are noticeable in the use of perspective, thick-foliaged trees, shaded hills, and the curtain.
• The bell pull in the pavilion uses different shading to give three-dimensionality to the object.
• An edition of Shahsmameh, written and illustrated in 1500, depicts King Khorsau II being murdered.
• The king ruled over the Sassanids, depicted in 1500 to illustrate an event from 1000 years prior.
• The assassin's face is left unfinished.

Moral Meaning

• Ferdousi asked society to reflect on the rise and fall of kings and nations via the writing.
• The book teaches about learning from the past to improve the present and shape the future.
• Ferdousi stressed the belief that the virtues of justice, honor, truth, and order should be strived for, and vices such as avarice, lying and cruelty should be avoided.
• The world is transient.

Nimaz Ganjavi

• Nimaz Ganjavi was a great poet, intellectual, and philosopher who depicted himself having tea with the Shash.
• His portrait was printed on a rug.

Under the Safavids

• The Muraqqas greatly developed from 1500-1700.
• The Safavids were originally from Turkey, and wrote much poetry in ancient Turkish.
• The Safavid Shahs supported Persian literature, poetry, and art projects.
• The first great ruler was Shash Ismail the 1st.
• The illustration of ruler Shash Ismail the 1st is not a Muraqqa.
• The realism and chiaroscuro technique suggest it was painted by a Western painter, or had Western influences.

Ismail's Battle with Uzbek Warlord Muhammad Shaybani Khan

• The battle took place in 1510 between Ismail and Uzbek ruler Muhammad Shaybani Khan.
• Ismail gilded his enemy's skull to use as a wine goblet after the battle.

Analysis of Battle Scene

• There is no perspective or proportions.
• It's a surreal, flat work, due to the lack of chiaroscuro.
• The black outline flattens the image.

"Jealousy Among Rivals", by Muhammadi (1579)

• On the death of Ismail II, there were three candidates for succession: Ismail's infant son, Ismail's brother, and Mohammad's 11-year-old son.
• Ismail II may have been poisoned.
• Pari Khān Khānum, sister of Ismail II and Mohammad, wanted to act as regent for any of the three.
• The piece shows rivalry among the succession candidates before Ismail II.
• Pari is entering the room.
• Sash Mirza Salman, selected out of the 3, was later murdered after rising to power.
• It has no correct perspective, flat colors, or chiaroscuro.
• There's no real background or emotions.
• The black outline makes it unrealistic and flat.

Safavid- Reza Abbasi

• Safavid-Reza Abbasi worked from 1530-1600 C.CA.

Muraqqa in the Ottoman Period

• The muraqqa were usually not signed, reflecting a rejection of individualism and the collaborative nature of the works.
• The best Ottoman painting was concentrated in Istanbul.
• Persian miniaturists worked for the Turks, as they were the best artists in the field.
• Head painters and scribes were named and depicted in some manuscripts.

Ottoman Muraqqas Styles

• Pictures are in 2 genres with unique characteristics.

Ottoman Muraqqas Styles: Landscapes and Events

• Architectures such as houses or castles are set in the background.
• Neatly pitched army camps.
• Strong, unrealistic colors are applied to nature.
• Time and space are depicted differently, with the same person repeated on the same page.
• There are lots of details.

Ottoman Muraqqas Styles: Portraits

• Simpler landscape backgrounds
• Uses chiaroscuro
• Features one person
• In profile
• More individual face characterization.
• Chiaroscuro is implemented.
• There was strong European influence in portrait development resulting in a less refined technique.

Prophet Muhammed Inside the Miniatures

• The Qu'ran is not illustrated like this, but histories and works of literature may have religiously related scenes of the Prophet Muhammed, but his face is usually not shown.
• A book commissioned by the Timurid ruler Abu Said (1451-1469) deals with Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven (miraj).
• The ascension began in Jerusalem and took Muhammad to Paradise and Hell.
• Muhammad ascended on Buraq, a winged creature that is most often shown with a horse-like body and a woman's face.
• He was accompanied by the archangel Jibril.

Mughal Miniatures

• India developed a keen art for Muraqqas and miniatures.
• There are common characteristics of their style.
• The style consists of realistic portraiture, usually in profile, influenced by Western prints.
• Scenes often portray lovers in a palace.
• Drawings show holy/noble men, whether Muslim or Hindu.
• Hunting scenes are included with exotic animals.

Modern Miniature

• The tradition continues globally.

Modern Miniature: Life of Woman

• Representations of the lives of Pakistani Women.

Modern Miniature: Agyl Abdullayev re-uses Icon

• Nimaz Gangavi icon re-used for modern art at the art exhibition in Dubai.

Kadim Ali's Modernity

• Kadim Ali exhibited his piece "tell us, you tell us" at Art Dubai 2021.
• It mixes Muraqqa iconography with modernity.
• It included Taliban fighters and poppy fields, reflecting the state of modern Afghanistan.

Explore Muraqqa art, albums blending Islamic miniature paintings and calligraphy. Originating in the Safavid Persian empire, it thrived under the Ottomans and Mughals. These albums, meaning 'patched together,' were lavishly bound and gifted for significant occasions.