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

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