Appearance of Evil and Monsters in Rashidā Shāhnāmeh

Subject Areas : Mytho

زهرا پاکزاد ¹ (دانشجوی دکتری هنر دانشکدههنرهای زیبا ـ دانشگاه تهران)

Received: 2015-05-24 Accepted : 2015-05-24 Published : 2011-03-21

Keywords: Islamic Mysticism, Beauty, Glory, Rashidā Shāhnāmeh,

Abstract :

  For understanding Iranian painting in the Middle Ages, we need to know about two Islamic mystic and philosophical terms: beauty and glory. Indeed, a Muslim painter, like a Muslim philosopher and mystic, believes that all creatures are manifestations of glory and beauty of God. So, he even paints the evil beautifully.   In Rashidā Shāhnāmeh (created in Isfahan, 17th Century, Repository: Tehran: Golestan Palace), we can see this aspect. The anonymous muslim painter has painted not only the good beings (lovers and beloveds, heroes and etc.) but also the evil beings (Satan, monsters, demons, dragons, etc.) in beautiful appearance. The present article, by studying the paintings of Rashidā Shāhnāmeh, tries to show the aesthetic aspects of them with respect to the concepts of beauty and glory.