Overview

Islamic art historian, Oleg Grabar introduces Western audiences to Persian painting, which consists primarily of miniatures illustrating works of literature, but also includes murals and small ceramics decorated with pictures. The masterpieces of this painting have a visual richness that requires the use of the intellect as well as the eye for their appreciation, and Grabar seeks to situate the reader within their world, that of Islamic culture in Iran from the Middle Ages to Modern times. Through a series of chapters on various aspects of Persian painting, he helps us understand its history, the characteristics that define it and the delights to be discovered in it. Grabar argues that this genre of painting offers a remarkable example of how books are illustrated in general and of how an Iranian secular taste emerged during centuries dominated by religious art. He shows that the peculiarities of its historical background gave rise to specific characteristics: striking colours, dematerialization of space, subtle evocations of emotions, simultaneous lyricism and epic. The qualities of Persian painting created an aesthetic mood that is related to Persian poetry and Islamic mysticism.

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9780691049991

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Reviews

A better guide can scarcely be imagined ...This is scholarship that opens patient, dedicated readers to high pleasure. -- Alan G. Artner Chicago Tribune Fascinating... An invaluable guide to the topic whose informative, well written text and beautifully reproduced illustrations attest to the author's depth of knowledge... This is a scholarly book that can also be enjoyed by the uninitiated. Library Journal Grabar has made many contributions to the study of early Islamic art and now turns his considerable powers to the study of the art of Persian painting... He offers many ways to work toward future avenues of research, all of which will benefit upcoming scholars of Persian painting. The general public will benefit from his advice to examine the paintings for the personal pleasure of entering a very private world. Choice The serious study of Persian art is barely 100 years old, and Oleg Grabar's authoritative overview stresses how little we know about these brilliantly colored and wittily composed miniatures and manuscripts. New York Times Book Review [An] infectiously enthusiastic book... [A] superb introduction, which combines critical sophistication with clarity and accessibility... The fact that Grabar never forgets the role of pleasure is one of the strengths of the book. -- Phil Baker The Art Book

A better guide can scarcely be imagined ...This is scholarship that opens patient, dedicated readers to high pleasure. -- Alan G. Artner, Chicago Tribune Fascinating... An invaluable guide to the topic whose informative, well written text and beautifully reproduced illustrations attest to the author's depth of knowledge... This is a scholarly book that can also be enjoyed by the uninitiated. -- Library Journal Grabar has made many contributions to the study of early Islamic art and now turns his considerable powers to the study of the art of Persian painting... He offers many ways to work toward future avenues of research, all of which will benefit upcoming scholars of Persian painting. The general public will benefit from his advice to examine the paintings for the personal pleasure of entering a very private world. -- Choice The serious study of Persian art is barely 100 years old, and Oleg Grabar's authoritative overview stresses how little we know about these brilliantly colored and wittily composed miniatures and manuscripts. -- New York Times Book Review [An] infectiously enthusiastic book... [A] superb introduction, which combines critical sophistication with clarity and accessibility... The fact that Grabar never forgets the role of pleasure is one of the strengths of the book. -- Phil Baker, The Art Book

Author Information

Oleg Grabar is Professor Emeritus at the School of Historical Studies. Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. He was for many years Aga Khan Professor of Islamic Art at Harvard University. His most recent books include The Mediation of Ornament (Meilon Lectures) and The Shape of the Holy: Early Islamic Jerusalem (both Princeton).

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