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Department of Art Research, Faculty of theoretical sxiences, Higher art studies, Art University of Iran, Tehran , b.avazpour@art.ac.ir
Abstract: (15 Views)
The subject of the mehtar and horse is one of the most frequently depicted themes in Indo-Persian muraqqaʿs and is also considered among the notable subjects in these albums.The subject matter of the mehtar-and-horse miniatures in most Indo-Persian muraqqaʿs, particularly the Muraqqa-e Gulshan, can be broadly classified into two groups: in the first, mehtar-and-horse belongs to a person who hastened to meet his beloved, while, in the second, to a person who hastened to meet his Morad (Sufi master). Meanwhile, one miniature from the Muraqqa-e Gulshan is different from similar miniatures. The lower half of this miniature is dedicated to mehtar-and-horse; the Mehtar is in the Safavid forefront figure and the horse is decorated with the company of two lovers next to symbolic motifs.The upper half of consists of two parts: the right side is dedicated to an icon of Shiva and on the left to a statue of Aphrodite. As is evident, the miniature in question seems to contain themes that apparently unrelated to each other! The aim of this research is to explain the coexistence of these themes, and the question is what does this coexistence mean, what does the presence of the Mehtar mean, and why is the mehtar-and-horse theme one of the most frequently depicted subjects in Indo-Persian miniatures? Following a descriptive-analytical study, the miniature is analyzed using Émile Mâle's iconological method. This method was selected because, given the multilayered and symbolic nature of the miniature, it enables an examination of the relationships among its various elements and facilitates the elucidation of the relationship between form and meaning. The findings indicate that the miniature falls into the first category; In this miniature, the Mehtar, accompanied by his horse, hastens to meet his beloved, with the qualification that what is at issue here is a transcendent love: love for a beloved who, like Anahita, Parvati, or Aphrodite, is a symbol of blessing and an embodiment of transcendent.
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