The Evolution of Iconography of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the Schools of Miniature in the Middle History of Iran

Iconography of the Messenger of God (PBUH) is one of the most important fields of religious art that has been used in the miniature schools of medieval Iranian history. This study intends to identify the most prominent icons of the holy Prophet (PBUH) in miniature schools and answer the question of "What morphological changes have taken place in the iconography of the Prophet (PBUH) in the middle history of Iran?" This study implemented an analytical-comparative research method using the library resources and documents. This research has sampled the top icons of the medieval Iranian history that have a definite attribution to the mentioned historical period and the Prophet of Islam. They also enjoy appropriate visual quality and thematic diversity. Most icons in the early Middle Ages have visual commonalities such as displaying unveiled figures, using round halos around the head, implementing limited color options, using mostly static and simple structures, and displaying the purity and serenity. However, since the Ilkhanid era, the simplicity of the icons was reduced and they gained excellent visual tricks in the Timurid and Safavid eras. More attention was paid to the details, such as presenting masked faces, using fiery halos, implementing various color options, displaying luxurious clothes and elongated limbs, applying precise polishing and using dynamic and curved structures.