The Study of Prophet Muhammad Images in Mongolian Ilkhans’ Miniature Utilizing Iconographic Approach

The events of the Prophet Muhammad’s life are one of the most important issues considered by painters in different eras, which many examples are in the manuscripts of Mongolian Ilkhans. This study includes the investigation of Ilkhani images related to prophet’s life based on Iconography method. Therefore, three questions formed the purpose of the study (1. Which characteristics have been basically utilized to describe the prophet pictures in Ilkhani period? 2. How is the evolutionary religious icons’ trend during the Ilkhani period? 3. What are the factors affecting on religious icons during the mentioned period?) Four images in Ilkhans’ manuscripts were assigned using the iconography method in order to answer these questions. The findings revealed that the painters typically illustrated the prophet’s events life relying on existing descriptions in the Qur’an, hadith and Islamic narratives as well as the interests of art patrons. The results indicate intellectual, religious, political and artistic background of the study period, which looks at the differentiation and the similarity of the images of the Prophet in this period.