Persian Paradises or the Art of Persian Miniature

Western artists discovered the Persian miniature at the beginning of the 20^th century, through Persian art exhibitions in Munich in 1910, in Paris in 1912 and London in 1931.
As early as the 11^th century, in Persia, miniatures described heroes of epic literature and poetry. Persian miniature experienced a turning point with the invasion of Mongols and during the Timourid period (12^th/ 16^th century). The Chinese influence was found in the drawing and material. These Persian paintings were first designed to illustrate texts; they will be done on separate paper sheets from the 16^th century.
Persian miniatures are a paradisiacal vision, materialized in the garden, featuring trees - that can make coexist seasons, fall and spring - fountains, silver  rivers, brightly coloured mountains and golden skies. All the beauty of Persian miniature comes from its magnificent colours and abundant finely elaborated details.

Out of the symbiosis between the Persian and Indian style will emerge the Moghol school in the 16^th century. Humayun, Babur’s son (the foundator of the Moghol dynasty) will discover the Persian illustration work and paintings at the Persian Safavid Court in Persia (1501-1736). He chose two young Persian painters who accompanied him to India and brought their taste for illuminations or illustrations of manuscripts to the Court. Their role was vital in the evolution of the Indian miniature style.

Nowadays this traditional art of Persian miniature is taught in France  and we are lucky to count among numerous students of the great miniaturist  Abbas Moayeri, born in Iran. He was the successor of the famous Master Behzâd – with whom he studied – at the School of Fine Arts of Teheran where he taught Persian miniature from 1967 to 1970. In addition to his sumptuous - highly prized by collectors – traditional miniatures, Abbas Moayeri, as a painter and sculptor ‘has also been doing extensive pictorial research, experimenting a unique way of creation fed by centuries of Persian art along with a western technique which lets the non Iranian laymans enter into the transfigured symbolism of a wonderful world of legend, poetry and ancient wisdom’. He received numerous awards and honors and actively participated in great international exhibitions.