Calligraphy in the Early Safavid Period: Evolutions, Functions, Patrons and Artists

Beginning of the SafavidEmpire, ie, the reign of Ismail and Tahmasp was the era of prosperity and development of calligraphy in Iran. This era can be divided into three periods of approximately equal length. The first was a period of transition from Timurid Herat to Safavid Tabriz. The second period, which coincided with the first years of the reign of Tahmasp and his interest in art of the book, was the period of rgularization of some scripts, specially nasta’liq and its use for a copy of Quran for the first time. In the third period, which coincided with the Tahmasp repentance and his withdrawal from painting, calligraphy continued its artistic life. Calligraphy in this era had two specific functions. First was artistic function and second was an administrative use. The aim of this essay is the survey of evolutions of calligraphy, various kinds of scripts used by safavid calligraphers, the role of patrons, eminent nasta’liq calligraphers and their social status in the early safavid period.