Miniature Art

Miniature is an ancient art and it has been performed differently by different nations because of their different characteristics and different styles have brought out in this art. This art passed to Iranians from Turks and Chineses and then it passed to Europe. Turks and Iranians called this art “nakış” which means colourful painting and they called minuature artists as “nakkaş”. Egyptians performed this art on papyrus papers but their works has not been preserved, so we do not have many  examples of Egyptian minuatures today.

In the archaeological excavation which were made in the Turkish cities in the central asia archeologists found some books and works with minuature art. In eighth century miniature works which were made by Uighurs are based on religious and worldly scenes. Uighur Turks used miniature art widely in their books and they made a great progress in this art.

With the Bezeklik murals which were examined by Seljuks in the nineth century, in central asia Miniature art was seperated from Chinese art and it has become a new typical Turkish art style. This art which was spread from Central Asia, was performed in madrasas for art by Mongols, Timurids, Ghaznevids, Seljuks and Iranians. Since artists of Miniature art traveled from city to city, knowledge and experience of Miniature art were spread and creative styles rose.