English: A BATTLE BETWEEN THE ARMY OF SHAH ISMA'IL AND THE AQ QOYUNLU

SAFAVID QAZVIN OR ISFAHAN, CIRCA 1590-1600

From a royal copy of the Habib al-Siyar, Khwand Amir's General History, gouache heightened with gold on paper, a single figure stands alone at the middle of the composition before a tree and small pond whilst around him rages a fierce battle with mounted soilders wearing brightly coloured robes approaching from each side, on the horizon men playing trumpets and drums look on, the wide margins and reverse of the folio with extremely elegant two-tone gold illumination forming floral scrolls and animal combat scenes, minor areas of staining Miniature 11 x 6¼in. (27.4 x 16cm.); folio 15 1/8 x 10¾in. (43.1 x 27.2cm.)

This miniature is possibly from the third volume of a copy of the Habib al-Siyar, containing five miniatures, that was sold in these Rooms, 20 April 1999, lot 79. The examination of the manuscript showed that two miniatures were removed earlier, probably when the manuscript was rebound during the 19th century. They were later sold at Sotheby's, London, 1 December 1969, lot 108 and 8 April 1975, lot 190 where they were identified as battle scenes. The reading of the pages consecutive to the removed miniatures allowed us to identify them as Shah Isma'ils defeat of Alwand and the Aq Qoyunlu at Shurur in AH 907/1501 AD, and the victory over Murad Aq Qoyunlu at Alma Qulaghi in AH 908/1503 AD. With no inscription on the miniature, it has not been possible however to identify which of these two battles is depicted here.

Another section of volume 3, which has three miniatures, is in the Vever collection. It is of similar dimensions and format, with miniatures on one side and illumination on the other (Lowry and Beach An annotated checklist of the Vever collection, Washington, 1988, no. 210, pp.187-189).

Ghiyath al-Din bin Humam al-Din, called Khwand Amir, was born circa AH 880/1475 AD in Herat where he began his historical writings under the patronage of Mir 'Ali Shir Nawa'i. The Habib al-Siyar was undertaken at the request of Sayyid Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad bin Yusuf al-Husaini, appointed Qadi of Khurasan and civil administrator of Herat by Shah Isma'il, and completed under the patronage of Qasim al-Din Khwajah Habibullah.

There are a few complete copies of the work, although a number of single volumes exist, particularly the fourth Juz of volume III. This volume illustrates the most recent periods discussed in the Habib al-Siyar. The earliest complete version in the British Library is dated AH 1009/1600 AD (Add. 26, 186).

The sumptuousness of the manuscript from which this miniature has been removed strongly suggests that it was produced for a royal patron, quite possibly for Shah 'Abbas I himself. The style of the illumination is characteristic of late sixteenth and early seventeenth century manuscripts. Furthermore, since the work is an account of the emergence of the Safavid kingdom, and 'establishes' both the political and religious legitimacy of the dynasty by tracing Shah Isma'il's descent from the Seventh Imam, it was an appropriate text to use 'as political propaganda during the troubled early years of Shah 'Abbas' reign.

Stylistically the miniatures are datable to the late sixteenth century, and are the product of the royal atelier either at Qazwin, or Isfahan after 1597. All the miniatures of this manuscript are by a single, very accomplished artist and show great attention to detail and texture, and original composition. The style is transitional, with certain Shirazi elements in the palette, horizon and various stylized motifs such as water channels and with some Qazwin features in its observation of architecture and textiles.