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The Qajar Rock Reliefs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Extract

The Qajar rock reliefs are without doubt an anachronistic group of monuments in Iranian art. An expression of royal power in pre-Islamic Iran, with the emergence of Islam, they more or less disappeared. The reason is obvious—they were representing human beings in a demonstrative, outgoing fashion. But even more important was their public character. In contrast to book painting and probably less to painting on canvas, the art of rock reliefs is intentionally turned towards an audience beyond the walls of the court. In some way they belong to the public and were put there with the aim of glorifying and propagating rulership.

All together there are eight reliefs, seven from the period of Fath āAli Shah (1797-1834) although not all were commissioned by him, and one from the time of Nasir al-Din Shah (1848-96). This last one is situated on the Haraz Road, near Tangah-i Band-buridah.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Association For Iranian Studies, Inc 2001

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