Persian Miniature Painting
Persian Miniature Painting
Within the Potter’s House;
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
(Unknown)
Persian Miniature painting: Gouache on paper
Late 19th- Early 20th century
Bequest of Helene Brosseau Black (Class of 1931)
MH 1991.4.50
I. Discussion of the Image
This miniature is a beautiful example of later Persian book painting that displays adaptations of the classical style to suit a more global viewership in the late 19th- early 20th century, the era of British colonialism (see figure 2). This scene depicts the beginning of the Kuza Nama (verses 59 through 68) from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, initially written by Omar Khayyam, a famous 12th century Sufi poet. The painting is composed of a uniform border, enclosing a relatively broader field comprising a central medallion and two smaller medallions aligned along a longitudinal axis. The central medallion (see figure 4) portrays a male potter in his house or workshop, at his wheel accompanied by three male assistants, all engaged in activities related to creating earthen pottery. This scene is overlooked by a bearded male figure, presumably a depiction of the poet (Khayyam) himself. The background of the central medallion visually describes flat structural and architectural spaces with a textile aesthetic i.e. use of interwoven geometric shapes and saturated colors to dissolve the distinction between positive and negative space, and create a flat, two dimensional tapestry- like viewing experience. The center of this medallion contains images that might indicate the artist’s desire to create the illusion of depth by portraying a background setting. A back wall with a separated framed space is shown, which could be either another painting or a window showing a rocky landscape, with some sparse grasses and a large blossoming tree. The smaller medallions at the top and bottom contain the image of a snow leopard attacking a gazelle, very similar to the “preying lion” (see figure 3) motif that has been
Within the Potter’s House;
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
(Unknown)
Persian Miniature painting: Gouache on paper
Late 19th- Early 20th century
Bequest of Helene Brosseau Black (Class of 1931)
MH 1991.4.50
I. Discussion of the Image
This miniature is a beautiful example of later Persian book painting that displays adaptations of the classical style to suit a more global viewership in the late 19th- early 20th century, the era of British colonialism (see figure 2). This scene depicts the beginning of the Kuza Nama (verses 59 through 68) from the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, initially written by Omar Khayyam, a famous 12th century Sufi poet. The painting is composed of a uniform border, enclosing a relatively broader field comprising a central medallion and two smaller medallions aligned along a longitudinal axis. The central medallion (see figure 4) portrays a male potter in his house or workshop, at his wheel accompanied by three male assistants, all engaged in activities related to creating earthen pottery. This scene is overlooked by a bearded male figure, presumably a depiction of the poet (Khayyam) himself. The background of the central medallion visually describes flat structural and architectural spaces with a textile aesthetic i.e. use of interwoven geometric shapes and saturated colors to dissolve the distinction between positive and negative space, and create a flat, two dimensional tapestry- like viewing experience. The center of this medallion contains images that might indicate the artist’s desire to create the illusion of depth by portraying a background setting. A back wall with a separated framed space is shown, which could be either another painting or a window showing a rocky landscape, with some sparse grasses and a large blossoming tree. The smaller medallions at the top and bottom contain the image of a snow leopard attacking a gazelle, very similar to the “preying lion” (see figure 3) motif that has been
Bibliography: 1. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum 2. Ellen Alvord ’89, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum 3. Holly Edwards, Curator, Williams College Art Museum 4. tehran.stanford.edu/literature/Poetry/Omar_Khayyam.html 5. Lecture Notes, ARTH 271: Arts of Islam; Michael Davis 6. Christie’s Auction house website- Image of Mughal Album Page