Muin Musavvir
Muin Musavvir (Persian: معین مصور) (1638–1697) was an Iranian painter. He is considered as one of the most famous painters in the Persian miniaturist during the Safavid period. He received his training from Reza Abbasi who pioneered Persian miniaturist of the Isfahan School at that time.[1]
Life
Muin was born in Isfahan and probably spent all of his life in this city. He is notable as a master in illustration paintings specially figures of people. Besides, His compositions in depicting of banquet and battle subjects are well known. Muin created his unique style that was exploited from Isfahan conditions in that era and was distinguishable from Chinese and Mughul style.[2] He was specialist in illuminated manuscript and border decorating and he illustrated animals and landscapes and other Aqa Mirak styles with significant virtuosity. Muin Mostly used watercolor in his painting and remained faithful to Isfahan school and Reza Abbasi. In addition of Reza Abbasi who was his major master other prominent painters influenced him including Behzad, Mohammadi and Sadeghi Beig. He had several prominent pupils that some of his manuscripts are signed by them. He was contemporary and friend of some famous painters that Shafi' Abbasi is one of the most famous of them.
Works
Muin Musavvir was one of the pioneers among Iranian artist who signed his works and provided dates and details for his manuscripts. Some of his works are as followed: Tiger Attacking a Youth A kneeling youth playing a flute Portrait of Shah Abbas that gives drug or wine to Hakim Shamsa Mohammad Shahnameh manuscripts including (A Princely Court, The Court of Gayumars, Tahmurath fights the army of demons, Faridun defeats Zahhak, Manuchihr defeats Tur, avenging his father’s murder, Zal and Mihrab travel to visit Zal’s father Sam, Rustam kills the White Div, Kay Kavus receives Rustam at his court, Rustam kills Suhrab, Tahmina mourns her son Suhrab, Sudaba tries to seduce Siyavush, he fire ordeal of Siyavush, Siyavush marries Firangis, Rustam lances Alkus in the fray, Rustam and the Iranians pay homage to Kay Khusrau, Kay Khusrau’s army marches to Turan, Bizhan snatches the crown from Tazhav’s head) And sixty more manuscripts attributed to him in “ lives and arts of painters.[3][4]
