"Art of Persia" redirects here. For the TV series, see Art of Persia (TV series).
Qajar dynasty rock reliefs in Tangeh Savashi, of the Fath Ali Shah era, c. 1800, a revival of an ancient Persian type.Half of a "Salting carpet", Safavid, in wool, silk and metal thread, about 1600Star-tile, Kashan, 13–14th century
Persian art or Iranian art (Persian: هنر ایرانی, romanized: Honar-è Irâni) has one of the richest art heritages in world history and has been strong in many media including architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and sculpture. At different times, influences from the art of neighbouring civilizations have been very important, and latterly Persian art gave and received major influences as part of the wider styles of Islamic art. This article covers the art of Persia up to 1925, and the end of the Qajar dynasty; for later art see Iranian modern and contemporary art, and for traditional crafts see arts of Iran. Rock art in Iran is its most ancient surviving art. Iranian architecture is covered at that article.
From the Achaemenid Empire of 550 BC–330 BC for most of the time a large Iranian-speaking state has ruled over areas similar to the modern boundaries of Iran, and often much wider areas, sometimes called Greater Iran, where a process of cultural Persianization left enduring results even when rulership separated. The courts of successive dynasties have generally led the style of Persian art, and court-sponsored art has left many of the most impressive survivals.
In ancient times the surviving monuments of Persian art are notable for a tradition concentrating on the human figure (mostly male, and often royal) and animals. Persian art continued to place larger emphasis on figures than Islamic art from other areas, though for religious reasons now generally avoiding large examples, especially in sculpture. The general Islamic style of dense decoration, geometrically laid out, developed in Persia into a supremely elegant and harmonious style combining motifs derived from plants with Chinese motifs such as the cloud-band, and often animals that are represented at a much smaller scale than the plant elements surrounding them. Under the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century this style was used across a wide variety of media, and diffused from the court artists of the shah, most being mainly painters.
Persianart or Iranian art (Persian: هنر ایرانی, romanized: Honar-è Irâni) has one of the richest art heritages in world history and has been strong in...
the ancient world. Throughout history, the Persian people have contributed greatly to art and science. Persian literature is one of the world's most prominent...
Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the First Persian Empire (/əˈkiːmənɪd/; Old Persian: 𐎧𐏁𐏂, Xšāça, lit. 'The Empire' or 'The Kingdom'), was...
or Turkish, museums. Miniature painting became a significant genre in Persianart in the 13th century, receiving Chinese influence after the Mongol conquests...
The culture of Iran (Persian: فرهنگ ایران) or culture of Persia is among the most influential in the world. Iran (Persia) is widely considered to be one...
tradition and style of garden design represented by Persian gardens or Iranian gardens (Persian: باغ ایرانی) is a style of "landscape" garden which emerged...
Persian calligraphy or Iranian calligraphy (Persian: خوشنِویسیِ ایرانی) is the calligraphy of the Persian language. It is one of the most revered arts...
The Persian Gulf (Persian: خلیج فارس, romanized: xalij-e fârs, lit. 'Gulf of Fars', pronounced [xæliːdʒe fɒːɾs]), sometimes called the Arabian Gulf (Arabic:...
The Persian cat, also known as the Persian Longhair, is a long-haired breed of cat characterised by a round face and short muzzle. The first documented...
Persian pottery or Iranian pottery is the pottery made by the artists of Persia (Iran) and its history goes back to early Neolithic Age (7th millennium...
This article contains Persian text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols. Persian (/ˈpɜːrʒən/ PUR-zhən...
Persianization (/ˌpɜːrʒəˌnaɪˈzeɪʃən/) or Persification (/ˌpɜːrsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/; Persian: پارسیسازی), is a sociological process of cultural change in which...
essential part of Persian culture and Iranian art. Within the group of Oriental rugs produced by the countries of the "rug belt", the Persian carpet stands...
period of Iranian art. The Safavid Empire was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the...
Sasanian Empire or Sassanid Empire, also known as the Second Persian Empire or Neo-Persian Empire, was the last Iranian empire before the early Muslim...
contemporary art scene, as well as cinema and photography. For a history of Persian visual art up to the early 20th century, see Persianart, and also Iranian...
in Safavid Iran – Chinese art and artists had a significant influence on Persianart. Timurid artists refined the Persianart of the book, which combines...
learning centers by the art patron Sultan Husayn Bayqara. The Timur reign experienced revived interest in classical Persianart. Large-scale building projects...
function and aesthetics. Images of Persian clothing examples can be seen in ancient art and Persian miniature paintings. Persian miniatures can employ both vivid...
great deal of European influence on Persian culture, especially in the arts of the royalty and noble classes. European art was undergoing a period of realism...
scholar, art historian, and architecture historian. He was an expert on historical Persianart, and he was the editor of the Survey of PersianArt (1939)...
facade, echoing the forms of wooden art. Most scholars agree that Mauryan art was influenced by Greek and Persianart, especially in imperial sculpture...
4th century onwards were decorated with wall and ceiling mosaics. Mosaic art flourished in the Byzantine Empire from the 6th to the 15th centuries; that...
Iranian architecture or Persian architecture (Persian: معمارى ایرانی, Me'māri e Irāni) is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia...
royal jewelry, including a copious amount of mother-of-pearl from the Persian Gulf. The Iranian crown jewels are among the largest, most dazzling and...
Timurid art was noted for its usage of both Persian and Chinese styles, as well as for taking influence from the art of other civilizations in Central Asia...
The Persians (Ancient Greek: Πέρσαι, Persai, Latinised as Persae) is an ancient Greek tragedy written during the Classical period of Ancient Greece by...
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