Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād

Lore & Background

He was born and lived most of his life in Herat, a city in modern-day western Afghanistan. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by the prominent painter and calligrapher Mirak Naqqash, a director of the Timurid royal library. Under his leadership, the academy reached its greatest period. His tomb is located in Herat, though the exact site is debated and not universally confirmed as beneath Kôh-i Mukhtâr.

Reader's Guide

Behzād is the most famous of Persian miniature painters, though he is more accurately understood as the director of a workshop producing manuscript illuminations in a style he conceived. His art includes the common geometric attributes of Persian painting while inserting his own style, such as vast empty spaces around which the subject dances. He uses value (dark-light contrast) more emphatically and skillfully than other medieval miniaturists, and his work displays narrative playfulness and surprising individuality of character. He introduced greater naturalism to Persian painting, particularly in the depiction of more individualised figures and the use of realistic gestures and expressions. Attribution of specific paintings to Behzād himself is often problematic, as his fame inspired many to copy his style and works. His lasting influence stems from his proficient depiction of humans and other organic motifs, bringing new depths to his painting's narratives and characters. His human figures were less stiff in their stances and more dynamic in their movements, creating a greater sense of energy and emotions.

Did You Know?

• Behzād was orphaned at an early age and raised by the painter and calligrapher Mirak Naqqash.
• His most famous work, 'The Seduction of Yusuf', features two couplets from Jami's poetry inscribed in white on blue around the central arch.
• Behzād's tomb is located in Herat, though the exact site is debated and not universally confirmed as beneath Kôh-i Mukhtâr.