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Evidence of Early figure painting in Moslem regions has been found in fragments of wall paintings, textile designs, and painted ceramic pieces. Our first examples of illustrated text came much later either because paper had only been recently introduced to the area, or because paper deteriorates so much more quickly than these other products.
 Silk Twill. East Persian, 10th century Inscribed: "Glory and prosperity to the Qa'id Abu-Mansur Bukhtagin, may God prolong his existance" . Bukhtagin was an officer of Abd-ul-Malik ibn Nuh, ruler of Khurasan and Transoxiana, and was put to death in 960 A.D. |
These first examples show a mingling of Hellenistic and Sassanian influences, with Greek and Arabic lettering appearing side by side.
The Hellenistic figures are rendered naturalistically, the folds of their clothing carefully modeled, often depicted from the side or in three-quarter view.
In the Sassanian tradition figures are shown full face, in rigid poses, their limbs hidden beneath their heavy costumes, painted in rich, bright colors.
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These female figures are posed frontally, in the Sassanian manner, even though many of the motifs must ultimately have been derived from Hellenistic art. The style of the paintings and the original colors, with red and bright blue predominating, were also essentially Sassanian.
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