Calligraphy

Books form the foundation of the Islamic civilization, and after the Islamic world had acquired a single script, numerous copies of the Quran were transcribed and distributed throughout the Islamic world. Concurrently with that development, calligraphers tried to achieve perfection in their transcription of Quran. Thus book illumination, focusing on themes that were compatible with the Islamic religion, flourished and various crafts such as bookbinding, calligraphy and book cover making developed in the production of religious books and literary and educational texts. After the advent of Islam in Iran the country's artistic tradition was connected to the new religion, and after 10 centuries the Persian painting, usually referred to as miniature painting, reached its apex. Also various artistic styles emerged in the Iranian cities, taking their names from the city in which they developed, such as the Tabriz, Harat, Isfahan, Qazvin and Mashad styles. Malek National Museum is preserving many samples of works by artists from different cities, including Soltanali Mashadi, Mir Emad, Mirza Gholamreza and Darvish Abdolmajid Taleqani. There are also paintings by Agha Sadegh, Lotfali Souratgar, and Agha Fathollah Shirazi. Other outstanding works kept in the museum include Baisunghur Quran, Baisunghur Shahnameh (Book of Kings) and Bahramshahi Kalileh and Demneh.