Comparative Study Monster Paintings of Mohamad Siahqalam to Soltan Mohamad Araqi

Painting monsters and grotesque beings is one of the common points between two renowned artists, Mohamad Siahqalam (active in the second half of the 9th century AD of Harat School of art) and Soltan Mohamad Araqi (active in Safavid Tabriz School of art in the mid-10th century AD). The remarkable similarities of monster paintings of the two artists reinforces the assumption that Soltan Mohamad imitated Mohamad Siahqalam's paintings and that has been mentioned earlier by some intellectuals as well. Given the fact that at the mentioned time print industry and photography had not been made the only possible option for rendering sketches or making replicas from another artist's work was the direct observation and unrestricted range of the piece of work. Thus Soltan Mohamad must have gained reach or range to some or all of Mohamad Siahqalam's works in his artistic time to have been able to use them. The question is that how it came to possibility for Soltan Mohamad to reach Mohamad Siahqalam's works given the distance in time and difference of living and working land. The second issue is taking character and different art base of artists into consideration, imitation and inspiration from Soltan Mohamad brings which scopes into attention. The main purpose of this article is making a comparative study of monster paintings of the artists and the similarities as well as differences between their works to prove as the second objective that Soltan Mohamad had access to the original works of Mohamad Siahqalam which further verifies the mentioned grotesque artist, Iranian. Through meticulous comparison of monster paintings of the two artists, the assumption of influence or even sketching from Mohamad Siahqalam turns into a fact. Although such sketch is limited to painting and monsters bodies and excludes color options and atmosphere.