Behzad lived his life primarily in the city of Herat, in what is today Afghanistan. His miniatures were exceptional in the way that human figures and architecture were arranged on the page, creating a sense of flow that draws viewers’ eyes around the page. These miniatures were testaments to the cosmopolitanism of the time – they drew inspiration from Chinese art, portrayed individuals of all of the different peoples that lived their lives in the globally-connected empire, and focused as much on everyday moments of humanity as well as those of conquering kings. While Persian art did not forbid showing human figures (as much Muslim art did), Behzad also excelled in incorporating Persian love for architecture and geometry, creating dizzying patterns with tiles, roof gables, staircases, etc (as in the miniature Yusef and Zuleykha).
Behzad remains thought of as one of the most notable Muslim artists of the medieval period.
I thought I'd share some images of works attributed to Behzad. Let me know if, like me, you like them.
The construction of castle Khavarnaq
Battleground of Timur and the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt.
Timur granting audience on the occasion of his accession
I do like them very much. The first picture reminds of Bruegel.
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