Mysterious Tales of Tabriz

Tabriz miniature painting has become one of the most interesting pages in the
annals of medieval Azerbaijani art. It was an absolutely amazing and at the
same time logical phenomenon in the cultural system of the people who created mughams and unique architecture, fine poetry and exquisite multicolored carpet patterns.
Unfortunately, the life of the Tabriz miniature school was not very long – just
over three centuries, of which the 14–16th were the most fruitful. By giving the
world thousands of priceless paintings, this school could no longer revive under
new conditions. And although Azerbaijani artists subsequently astounded many
audiences with their works, including those in the miniature genre, works of
Tabriz masters remained an unattainable pinnacle for many generations of
painters, a welcome rarity for connoisseurs, a source of pride for a handful of
museums that have these masterpieces in their collections.
The works of Shah’s kitab-khane not only earned glory for the Islamic civilization but also greatly expanded the list of World Heritage Sites. They are part
of the history of mankind, an invaluable piece of the puzzle which represents
a huge picture of the road they have covered.