Abstract:
This study examines interior scenes in the celebrated Safavid Shahnameh of 1525
produced for Shah Tahmasp, highlighting their contribution as a unique category within
architectural representations in Persian art. It traces the evolution of interior
representations in Persian manuscripts, providing a concise history of Shahnameh
illustrations and their cultural influences. The core of the research centers on developing
a proposed classification system that facilitates the interpretation of interior spaces. The
examination closely analyzes fifty-two interior miniatures from the manuscript, paying
attention to their diversity and intricate detailing. Addressing the interiors as a distinct
category sheds light on making the miniatures in terms of interior representations, and
their role in the overall individual and collective reading of the folios within the
manuscript.
The study suggests that artists purposefully planned these interiors in their endeavor to
depict interiors across multiple locations in the manuscript. They crafted a repertoire of
interiors, each distinctly representative of a specific locale. This process integrates
established artistic conventions for rendering architectural spaces, complemented by their
access to visual and written resources. This incorporation details architectural imagery, in
addition to relying on the requirements of the narrative of the Shahnameh epic poem.
