Visual Language of the Tarikh Jahangosha-ye Joveyni (By Study on two Illustrated Manuscripts)

Tarikh Jahangosha narrates the invasion and rule of the Ilkhanid over Iran. Illustrated manuscripts of Tarikh Jahangosha reveal the terribly painful memories that Iranian kept in their heart’s wounds by Ilkhanid rulers. Visual language of the Illustrations shows secrets of history that cannot be expressed by the text. Therefore, the study of these paintings is as important as the study of its text. This article examines Tarikh Jahangosha’s paintings from the perspective of symbolism and composition by study on two illustrated manuscripts. Then, it answers these questions: symbolism in Tarikh Jahangosha have been influenced by what cultures? What pictorial features did the painters use to show the legitimacy of the kings (Farreh)? How does the images composition reveal the narrative of victory or defeat? The results show that paintings represent a hidden part of the history that cannot be achieved in the text, so we should pay more attention to the paintings of historical texts as a visual language and valuable historic document.