Divan (Collected Works) of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i 1474 - 1525

Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi made this page from the Divan of Mir 'Ali Shir Nava'i with ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper. Painted in the Timurid Empire, in the late-fifteenth or early sixteenth century, this image creates meaning through visual codes and historical associations. It invites us to consider the role of the courtly class and its relationship to art. The illuminated text and accompanying painting reflect the cultural values of the time, celebrating poetry, learning, and the patronage of the arts. The attention to detail in the painting, the delicate brushwork, and the use of precious materials all speak to the wealth and sophistication of the Timurid court. As historians, we might look at court records and biographies, comparing this image to others made for similar patrons to understand the social and institutional context in which it was made. Doing so reminds us that art's meaning is always contingent on its time and place.