Architecture's Glory in Kamaleddin Behzad Works
Ali Asqar Shirazi
Reprinted from: Honar Nameh, University of Art, Tehran, No. 18, Spring 2004 (A brief of the article)


Kamaleddin Behzad is one of the first class artists in Iranian miniature painting. This unique and innovate artist of Timurid era was born at a time of great cultural achievements and increasing patronage of artists by kings.

Behzad and his works represent Timurid era's achievements, which were continued by Safavid kings. Thus, he held the position of director of libraries, especially the royal libraries, in both dynasties.

By controlling the governmental facilities and supporting artists, he effected fundamental developments in the painting of "Herat" and "Second Tabriz" schools. The mystical worldviews of Jami and Amir AliShir Navai had a strong influence on Behzad's thought and art.

He introduced many innovations: avoiding imitations of the superficial aspects of the material world, and avoiding an illusionist representation of the natural world. He employed many techniques in his brand of naturalism: similarity between natural and emotional, expressive representations in drawings; and a new sense of color, movement and space, all of which take the viewer into the natural world.

In his time prosperous and glorious cities, as well as monumental buildings had to be pictured. Timurid architecture, and the increasing building projects of Timur the Lane and his descendents, as well as their extensive building decorations, comprised the elements of Behzad's works.