Reza Abbasi

Āghā Reza -e Abbasi (* 1570 in Mashhad, † 1635 in Isfahan, also Reza Abbasi or Reza ) is considered the most famous Persian miniature painter and calligrapher of the so-called Isfahan School, which flourished during the Safavid rule under Shah Abbas I..

Life

He learned his craft in the studio of his father, Ali Asghar, and was appointed to the court early shah Abbas I.. At the age of 38 years he was awarded the honorary title of Abbasi. In the hope of greater personal freedom Reza Abbasi left very soon the royal court and also spent time working in the circle of the "simple" people. In 1610 he returned to the court, where he remained until his death.

Artistic style

In the field of Persian miniature painting, Reza Abbasi specialized in naturalistic themes, its feminized colored expressionistic portraits reflect the style of the late Safavid period.

Many of his works depict young men in artificial poses, often in the role of a so-called Saqi or Weineinschenkers - exposed to the admiring gaze of an older man. After Louis Crompton this testifies to the Persian tradition, " to appreciate youthful male beauty ".

The majority of Abbasi's works is located in the museum named after him in Tehran. Furthermore you can find his works in major museums around the world such as the Smithsonian, the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum.