The Illustration of History in Persian Manuscripts. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Melville, Charles
• Is Part Of: Iran. Volume 56:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 47
• Page End: 63
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Historiography -- manuscript illumination -- text–image relationships; Iran -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Iran -- Civilization -- Periodicals; 955.005
• DOI: 10.1080/05786967.2018.1426193
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0578-6967

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Many medieval manuscripts are illuminated with paintings and other graphic elements, one purpose of which may have been to reinforce the significance of the work in question with a pictorial gloss, and perhaps also as a visual aid to convey its message for the benefit of readers who may not always have been literate. Reading the text through pictures is a matter of particular interest in the case of historical literature, as chronicles often commissioned at court lend themselves especially well to a deliberate programme of enhancing the image of the ruler and celebrating his deeds according to the political concepts and ideological imperatives of the time. This paper addresses the question of the illustration of historical texts within the Persian tradition of book art, focusing on the Jami' al-tawarikh of Rashid al-Din and its impact on later productions.