Peerless Images: Persian Painting and Its Sources

An ambitious endeavor for one publication, this book approaches the near boundless field of Persian painting from a thematic vantage point. A prefatory but comprehensive historical overview, including a discussion of pre-Islamic painting by Russian scholar Marshak, establishes the fundamental chronology of ruling dynasties, invading neighbors and shifting art practices of the Persian world through the early 20th century. Islamic art scholar Sims's decision to organize the volume's sumptuous reproductions of wall paintings, illustrated manuscripts and lacquerware according to motif creates a highly original cultural index for students of Iranian art. Topoi, or archetypes, such as Razm U Bazm (Fighting and Feasting), the Five Pillars of Islam, Night Scenes, and The Scholar explore not only princely and ceremonial themes but formal properties, such as line, color and composition. The book's strength is in the details, namely the hundreds of individual images that have been thoroughly catalogued and researched. Each entry includes a straightforward explication of the artwork and often anecdotal information about the artifact's recovery and preservation. An essay by Grube supplements the section on religious painting in the Islamic period. 15 b&w and 345 full color illus.