The Preface of Shah Quli Khalifa Muhrdar (the Seal-Keeper) in the Shah Tahmasp Muraqqa

Introduction: During the reign of Shah Tahmasp (۹۳۰–۹۸۴ A.H.), a Muraqqa was commissioned by Shah Quli Khalifa, the royal seal-keeper of Shah Tahmasp, and prepared under his patronage. Today, this Muraqqa is preserved in the Istanbul University Library under the catalog number nekfy۰۱۴۲۲. Accordingly, the aim of this article is to introduce this Muraqqa and, in particular, to examine its unique preface (dībācha). It seeks to answer the following questions: «In what year was the Shah Tahmasp Muraqqa produced? What works does it contain and by which artists? To which historical periods does each of these works belong?»Research Method: The research method is historical-analytical. Data were gathered from library sources and from the Muraqqa, accessed online via the Istanbul University Library.Findings: The examination of the Shah Tahmasp Muraqqa reveals that, unlike other Muraqqas, it consists of three sections: An opening preface (dībācha), a main body containing calligraphic panels and paintings, and a concluding preface. It was compiled between the years ۹۳۶-۹۶۵ A.H. or ۹۴۵-۹۶۵ A.H. for Shah Quli Khalifa Muhrdar (the Seal-Keeper), and its scribe was Shah Mahmud Nishapuri. The earliest calligraphic piece dates to ۷۴۶ A.H., while the most recent one belongs to ۹۴۵ A.H. Works by ۳۳ calligraphers and two painters from the Injuid, Ilkhanid, Jalayirid, Timurid, and Safavid schools were identified. Single examples of calligraphy by Shah Ismail Safavid, Shah Tahmasp, Bahram Mirza, and Sam Mirza are included in this Muraqqa. Miniatures from ‘Kalila and Dimna’ of the Jalayirid period, as well as the preface of the Muraqqa of Amir Alishir Navai, written by Abdullah Morvarid, are also contained within it.Conclusion: The results indicate that this Muraqqa was produced after Shah Tahmasp’s repentance in ۹۳۹ A.H. and his subsequent turning away from amusements and worldly pleasures. The existence of such a Muraqqa demonstrates that Shah Tahmasp did not completely abandon art and its patronage. Rather, his attention shifted away from commissioning large-scale manuscripts, which required immense expenditures of time and money, toward smaller-scale works such as single-sheet paintings and Muraqqa-making, which replaced the earlier monumental courtly productions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Shah Tahmasp Muraqqa ، Shah Quli Khalifa Muhrdar (the Seal-Keeper) ، Preface (Dībācha) ، Muraqqa nekfy۰۱۴۲۲ ، Istanbul University