Afghanistan (Herat)
Colors, silver, and gold on paper
H. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm), W. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Fletcher Fund, 1963 (63.210.35)
This miniature of a funeral procession approaching a gravesite is striking in many respects. Although still within the Timurid tradition, innovations attributed to the leadership of the painter Bihzad appeared at the court of Sultan Husain Baiqara in the late fifteenth century. Before this period, a scene from everyday life would have been impossible. This painter and his colleagues introduced genre scenes into their repertoire, in addition to scenes describing the more standard pursuits of the aristocracy. From this painting much can be learned of burial practices in Khorasan, where it was customary to build open platforms within a walled enclosure, rather than domed mausoleums, such as Timur's tomb, the Gur-i Amir in Samarqand. The figures here also relate to one another, show emotion, and perform humble tasks. This combination was so popular that it was copied more than once.
Related
Index Terms
Material and Technique
Object
Subject Matter/Theme
- Genre Scenes
- Genre Scenes, Central and North Asia
- Literature and Literary Connections
- Literature and Literary Connections, Persian Poetry
