PRINCES, POETS AND PALADINS

by CANBY SHEILA R

Since the 1950s Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan have collected Islamic and Indian paintings and drawings, including one by the Safavid artist, Sultan Muhammad. Published to accompany a major exhibition at the British Museum, this title features 145 works, including many from the period when the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal dynasties were all at their height. The introduction reviews how Islamic and Indian paintings have been collected in the latter part of the 20th century, focusing on this collection. It looks at the context in which the paintings were produced in the courts and cities of Turkey, Iran and India, and investigates the nature of imitation in Islamic and indian paintings. Finally, this text considers the content of the works catalogued and examines how the artists have given visual form to mystical ideas and principles.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998