Sadiqi Beg
Encyclopedia
Sadiqi Beg was a Persian
poet, biographer, draftsman, soldier and miniaturist
of the Safavid period.
into the Afshar tribe
, one of the Turkish tribal groups that engendered the Safavid rise to power, Sadiqi was a soldier by family tradition. In 1568, however, he asked his pupil and nephew Muzaftar Ali, reputedly an incomparable figure painter, to teach him the art of the well-known earlier artist Bihzad.
Sadiqi's native language was Chaghatai
, and he wrote biographical sketches of some of the era's leading poets, artists and connoiseurs in that language. He also wrote a treatise on painting techniques in Persian
verse. His writings are one of the major sources on the history of Persian miniature painting. He reportedly "painted thousands of marvellous portraits".
Sadiqi was head of the royal library in Qazwin from 1587 to 1598, under Shah Abbas I, whom he had impressed years earlier. He had previously served under Shah Isma'il II
, who ruled from 1576 to 1577, after which he withdrew to Hamadan
and later to Lahijan
and to Yazd
.
Examples of Sadiqi's work are in a number of museums. A 3-inch by 6-inch (7.62 cm by 15.24 cm) gouache
miniature on gold paper, Portrait d'une jeune femme assise sur un rocher, attributed to Sadiqi from 1590, sold at auction in Paris in 1996 for 80,000 French francs (15,792 U.S. dollars; 12,604 euros; or 10,301 British pounds). Some scholars, such as B. W. Robinson, attribute the 107 miniatures in a 1593 version of Anwar i-Suhayli (a book of fables) to Sadiqi, although others, such as Basil Gray, think that they appear to be by several artists, not all of the same quality. The manuscript, in the collection of the Marquess of Bute
, is inscribed to "Sadiqi Beg, the rarity of the age, the second Mani, the Bihzad of the time".
Overbearing and outspoken, he fell from office in 1598, although he retained his title and salary. His last royal work was on an edition of the Shahnama (Book of Kings), part of which is at the Chester Beatty Library
in Dublin.
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
poet, biographer, draftsman, soldier and miniaturist
Persian miniature
A Persian miniature is a small painting on paper, whether a book illustration or a separate work of art intended to be kept in an album of such works called a muraqqa. The techniques are broadly comparable to the Western and Byzantine traditions of miniatures in illuminated manuscripts...
of the Safavid period.
Biography
Born in TabrizTabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
into the Afshar tribe
Afshar tribe
Afshars, also called Avshar are a branch of the Turkic Oghuz groups. These originally nomadic Oghuz tribes moved from Central Asia through Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and finally most of them settled in Anatolia.Most of Afshars are followers of Shia Islam....
, one of the Turkish tribal groups that engendered the Safavid rise to power, Sadiqi was a soldier by family tradition. In 1568, however, he asked his pupil and nephew Muzaftar Ali, reputedly an incomparable figure painter, to teach him the art of the well-known earlier artist Bihzad.
Sadiqi's native language was Chaghatai
Chagatai language
The Chagatai language is an extinct Turkic language which was once widely spoken in Central Asia, and remained the shared literary language there until the early twentieth century...
, and he wrote biographical sketches of some of the era's leading poets, artists and connoiseurs in that language. He also wrote a treatise on painting techniques in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
verse. His writings are one of the major sources on the history of Persian miniature painting. He reportedly "painted thousands of marvellous portraits".
Sadiqi was head of the royal library in Qazwin from 1587 to 1598, under Shah Abbas I, whom he had impressed years earlier. He had previously served under Shah Isma'il II
Ismail II
Ismail II was the third Safavid Shah of Iran.-Life:Ismail was the son of Shah Tahmasp I by a Turcoman mother, Sultanum Bekum Mawsillu. In 1547, he was appointed governor of the province of Shirvan where he led several expeditions against the Ottomans...
, who ruled from 1576 to 1577, after which he withdrew to Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
and later to Lahijan
Lahijan
Lahijan is a city in and the capital of Lahijan County, Gilan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 71,871, in 21,518 families....
and to Yazd
Yazd
Yazd is the capital of Yazd Province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. At the 2006 census, the population was 423,006, in 114,716 families....
.
Examples of Sadiqi's work are in a number of museums. A 3-inch by 6-inch (7.62 cm by 15.24 cm) gouache
Gouache
Gouache[p], also spelled guache, the name of which derives from the Italian guazzo, water paint, splash or bodycolor is a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water. A binding agent, usually gum arabic, is also present, just as in watercolor...
miniature on gold paper, Portrait d'une jeune femme assise sur un rocher, attributed to Sadiqi from 1590, sold at auction in Paris in 1996 for 80,000 French francs (15,792 U.S. dollars; 12,604 euros; or 10,301 British pounds). Some scholars, such as B. W. Robinson, attribute the 107 miniatures in a 1593 version of Anwar i-Suhayli (a book of fables) to Sadiqi, although others, such as Basil Gray, think that they appear to be by several artists, not all of the same quality. The manuscript, in the collection of the Marquess of Bute
Marquess of Bute
Marquess of the County of Bute, shortened in general usage to Marquess of Bute, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1796 for John Stuart, 4th Earl of Bute.-Family history:...
, is inscribed to "Sadiqi Beg, the rarity of the age, the second Mani, the Bihzad of the time".
Overbearing and outspoken, he fell from office in 1598, although he retained his title and salary. His last royal work was on an edition of the Shahnama (Book of Kings), part of which is at the Chester Beatty Library
Chester Beatty Library
The Chester Beatty Library was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1950, to house the collections of mining magnate, Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. The present library, on the grounds of Dublin Castle, opened on February 7, 2000, the 125th anniversary of Sir Alfred's birth and was named European Museum...
in Dublin.