THE ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS IN BEHZAD’S PAINTING: A REFLECTION OF TIMURIDS ARCHITECTURES OR STYLE EVOLUTION?

Abstract

While many published studies have addressed popular Persian painters of the Timurid and Safavid periods, there is a gap in terms of the life, performances,and meanings behind the artistic works of Kamāl ud-DīnBihzād’s artistry. In this direction, this thesis inclines towards completing the existing documentation gap related to the life, personality, and artworks of Bihzād. Precisely, this thesis examines Bihzād’s paintings to define his artistic style, evaluates the architectural specifics of his work, explores the background of Bihzād’s work and the impact of his environment, and compares the artworks of Bihzād with the architecture of the buildings of his time. To attain this deeply historical inquiry, this thesis explores historical records of the period. The study’s qualitative methodology involves the analysis of secondary historical data because the artist in question lived between 1450 and 1535. Four manuscriptsformed a key part of this thesis’s analysis based on their consistent depiction of Bihzād’s artworks as reflections of the architectural designs of the era. From the analysis of the manuscripts, it was notable that Bihzād was a key stakeholder in Timurid’s artwork. He was an iconic painter in charge of cooperation among the painters in the town and contributed to Persian manuscript illustration. Bihzād’s era coincided with the Renaissance in Italy, when great artists like Leonardo da Vinci were popular. It is possible to assert that his works were essential to Persia and other spheres of influence. Historical records point out that Bihzād’s innovative art, though it was not common to Persia, impacted and revolutionized Persian art. Through analysis of Zafar-Namah, Bustan of Sa’adi, Khanzah of Nizami, and Hayrat al-Abrar, among other arts, it was notable that Bihzād’s works were connected to the architecture of his era. This similarity included the incorporation of staircases on buildings, among others. The use of truncated arches, and Islamic motifs was also a popular part of the era’s architecture that appeared consistently in Bihzād’s works. Thus, Bihzād’s works are not only a reflection of the architecture of the time. They also depict how artists of the era contributed to the advancement of the region’s architecture.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Islamic Studies