Investigation of Zandieh Era Frescoes in Shiraz

Fresco or wall paintings of Shiraz city are one of the most popular forms of architectural decoration in the buildings of the Zandiyeh period which confirm the narrative concepts of this period. Frescoes are among the important works that can be studied in Islamic art. It is possible to obtain valuable information on the history and architecture of the Zandieh era by reading various articles, books and available documents but comprehensive and written information about the Zandieh wall paintings and the narrative in its decorative motifs, especially in the Shiraz area, is rarely found. The present study seeks to investigate the wall paintings of the Zandiyeh period in Shiraz and their correspondence with their use in the construction and the content validity of the motifs using a descriptive-analytical approach based on field observations and documentation, and library studies. In the present study, first, the original fresco works were documented in the buildings of Arg-e Karim Khan, Kolah Farangi Mansion, Jahan Nama Garden Mansion, Hafttanan Garden Mansion and Divankhaneh Mansion. Then, they were classified and analyzed. The results of the present study show that the motifs used in the painting of the building have no specific application; only a few examples of religious and mystical themes with flower and bird design are depicted in the building of Hafttanan Garden. These motifs express mystical beliefs in the form of symbols and codes derived from the artistic taste of their creators.