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During the preliminary phase of analytical discourse on South Asia’s medieval history, the scholarship rigidly demarcated the material cultures of the pre-Islamic societies from those of the Muslim communities that were only introduced to the region’s landscapes once the Islamic political rule was established. This was done to simplify the process of examining the regional, religious, ethnic, political, and cultural disparities in the Indian subcontinent’s medieval milieu. Consequently, the exceedingly broad categories of “Muslim” and “Hindu” were conceived to portray the identities of South Asian societies and cultures. However, these categories remain in use even in the current art-historical scholarship that shows a tendency to classify the historical artifacts based on either geographic or sectarian identities. To that end, the sites developed by Muslim rulers are termed as “Islamic/Muslim,” and Hindu temples as “Indian.” Such simplistic classifications, which identify the social and material cultures with singular monolithic identities, overlook the dynamics of intercultural and interfaith interactions between the diverse co-existing communities of South Asian regions that played an active role in shaping those cultures. The Samma dynastic architecture in the vast necropolis of Makli – a UNESCO world heritage site located in the city Thatta (in present-day Sindh province of Pakistan) – presents an opportunity to examine this key methodological issue. Modern scholars classify Samma architecture under the polarities such as “Sindhi,” “Islamic,” and “Indo-Islamic.” The present research challenges these classifications to demonstrate that the overall artistic program of Samma architecture does not reflect any single culture, religion or region. In fact, it evinces a hybridization of style and character, and hence, transcends the standard categorization of architectural artifacts from South Asia. Therefore, by actively engaging with the architecture, decoration, and epigraphy, this study allows for the formulation of important conclusions on the meanings attached to the Samma dynastic architecture, which was a key medium of presenting their social, religious, political and cultural programs. Additionally, this study demonstrates where Samma monuments fit within the broader categories of artistic productions from South Asia as well as the wider Islamic world. Hence, where this research augments the overly broad and simplified classifications, it also aims to produce a more meaningful analytical framework that moves beyond visual analysis, iconography, and typology. / Graduate / 2021-11-15

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İlker Evrim Binbaşs Studie Intellectual networks in Timurid Iran: Sharaf al-Dīn ʿAlī Yazdī and the Islamicate Republic of Letters behandelt das Leben und Wirken des weithin als einer der bedeutendsten Historiker der ersten Jahrzehnte timuridischer Herrschaft in Iran bekannten Šaraf ad-Dīn ʿAlī Yazdī (um 770 oder 780–858/1370 oder 1380–1454, Taft oder Yazd in Zentraliran).

L’art des Turkmènes qarâ qoyunlu (782-873 h./1380-1468) et âq qoyunlu (780-914 h./1378-1508) alongtemps été dédaigné dans l’histoire de l’art du monde iranien. Pourquoi assimiler systématiquement cesoeuvres aux productions timourides ? Ne pourrait-on donc parler d’un « art turkmène » ? À partir d’un corpusde cinquante ensembles décoratifs en céramique, l’objectif de cette étude est de retracer une histoire desproductions turkmènes, de leurs formes, de leurs techniques, et d’en comprendre les articulations artistiques.L’ensemble des monuments qarâ qoyunlu et âq qoyunlu connus est dans un premier temps exploré,regroupés selon une présentation régionale : un parti pris permettant de souligner la force de traditionsartistiques locales autour de centres tels que Tabriz, E½fahân, Yazd ou encore Kâshân. Cette approche liminaireest suivie d’une analyse technique et ornementale des céramiques architecturales. Le dernier axe de cetterecherche s’intéresse à l’organisation de la production. L’enjeu est d’abord de comprendre les confluencesartistiques complexes s’exerçant alors en Iran, avant de s’arrêter sur les acteurs de cette production : lesmécènes et les artisans.Cette étude cherche à apporter un regard nouveau sur certains pans de la céramique architecturaleislamique. La « charnière turcomane » constitue en effet un jalon important de l’histoire de l’art : un point decontact avec les territoires timouride, mamlouk et ottoman frontaliers, et une passerelle vers les Empiresmodernes du siècle suivant. / Qarâ Qoyunlu (782-873 h./1380-1468) and Âq Qoyunlu (782-873 h./1380-1468) Turkman’s art haslong been disregarded in the art history of the Iranian world. This research brings the nature of Turkman art intoquestion, through the example of tiling art. Based on a group of fifty ornamental ceramic groups, this studyattempts to trace the history of Turkman decorative features, their designs, their techniques, and to understandtheir artistic connections.This research first proposes to explore every known qarâ qoyunlu and âq qoyunlu monument, sharedout among regional groups so that the strength of the regional traditions could be underlined around suchartistic centers as Tabriz, E½fahân, Yazd, or Kâshân. This part is followed by a technical and ornamental studyof Turkman tiles. The last component of that research is the organization of the production. It aims to givestatements about artistic confluences in Iran, and then to present actors of tiling production : the patrons andcraftsmen.This study intends to bring a new eye on some groups of Islamic tiles. The Turkman transition makesan important step in history of art: a meeting point between Timurid, Mamluk and Ottoman’s borderlineterritories, and a bridge to Modern Empires of the next century.

L’art des Turkmènes qarâ qoyunlu (782-873 h./1380-1468) et âq qoyunlu (780-914 h./1378-1508) alongtemps été dédaigné dans l’histoire de l’art du monde iranien. Pourquoi assimiler systématiquement cesoeuvres aux productions timourides ? Ne pourrait-on donc parler d’un « art turkmène » ? À partir d’un corpusde cinquante ensembles décoratifs en céramique, l’objectif de cette étude est de retracer une histoire desproductions turkmènes, de leurs formes, de leurs techniques, et d’en comprendre les articulations artistiques.L’ensemble des monuments qarâ qoyunlu et âq qoyunlu connus est dans un premier temps exploré,regroupés selon une présentation régionale : un parti pris permettant de souligner la force de traditionsartistiques locales autour de centres tels que Tabriz, E½fahân, Yazd ou encore Kâshân. Cette approche liminaireest suivie d’une analyse technique et ornementale des céramiques architecturales. Le dernier axe de cetterecherche s’intéresse à l’organisation de la production. L’enjeu est d’abord de comprendre les confluencesartistiques complexes s’exerçant alors en Iran, avant de s’arrêter sur les acteurs de cette production : lesmécènes et les artisans.Cette étude cherche à apporter un regard nouveau sur certains pans de la céramique architecturaleislamique. La « charnière turcomane » constitue en effet un jalon important de l’histoire de l’art : un point decontact avec les territoires timouride, mamlouk et ottoman frontaliers, et une passerelle vers les Empiresmodernes du siècle suivant. / Qarâ Qoyunlu (782-873 h./1380-1468) and Âq Qoyunlu (782-873 h./1380-1468) Turkman’s art haslong been disregarded in the art history of the Iranian world. This research brings the nature of Turkman art intoquestion, through the example of tiling art. Based on a group of fifty ornamental ceramic groups, this studyattempts to trace the history of Turkman decorative features, their designs, their techniques, and to understandtheir artistic connections.This research first proposes to explore every known qarâ qoyunlu and âq qoyunlu monument, sharedout among regional groups so that the strength of the regional traditions could be underlined around suchartistic centers as Tabriz, E½fahân, Yazd, or Kâshân. This part is followed by a technical and ornamental studyof Turkman tiles. The last component of that research is the organization of the production. It aims to givestatements about artistic confluences in Iran, and then to present actors of tiling production : the patrons andcraftsmen.This study intends to bring a new eye on some groups of Islamic tiles. The Turkman transition makesan important step in history of art: a meeting point between Timurid, Mamluk and Ottoman’s borderlineterritories, and a bridge to Modern Empires of the next century.

Les « Maîtres de Tabriz » ont suscité un vif intérêt chez les chercheurs. Ces céramistes, qui ont orné des édifices ottomans au 15ème et 16ème siècle, demeurent pourtant mystérieux à bien des égards. L’absence de biographies rend leur identification incertaine et engendre par conséquent de nombreuses théories sur leur origine historique et géographique. Concrètement, ces maîtres ne sont connus qu’à travers leur nom figurant dans les inscriptions monumentales ou dans les archives ottomanes. Une investigation dans les textes anciens a alors été essentielle pour combler le manque d’indices. Cependant, certaines de ces sources écrites ont fait l’objet d’extrapolations et de spéculations aléatoires. Pourtant, elles sont considérées comme des éléments probants, ce qui fausse évidemment l’identification de ces céramistes. Il a été primordial de revenir sur les éléments d’identification. La relecture des sources primaires permet en effet de dégager les notions concrètes et d’écarter les hypothèses infondées. Tel est l’enjeu de la première partie de cette étude qui met en évidence les connaissances que l’on possède des « Maîtres de Tabriz ». La deuxième partie est consacrée à l’analyse technique et ornementale des céramiques architecturales. Les œuvres des « Maîtres de Tabriz » sont relativement bien connues. Elles ont fait l’objet de nombreuses publications, mais ont souvent été abordées de manière transversale. Cette étude propose une nouvelle approche en mettant en relation la production de chacun des quatre groupes de céramistes. Cette démarche permet ainsi de saisir l’évolution de cette production tout en mettant en avant les corrélations et les disparités artistiques. / The « Masters of Tabriz » generate high interest among researchers. These ceramists, who decorated ottoman buildings in the 15th and 16th centuries, remain mysterious in many respects. The absence of biographies makes their identification uncertain and hence leads to many different theories about their historical and geographical origins. In reality, these masters are only known for their names found on monumental inscriptions and from ottoman chancery documents. Thus, investigation into ancient texts became essential to fill in the lack of evidence. However, some of these written sources have led to extrapolations and uncertain speculations. Yet these have been accepted and considered as conclusive elements, which obviously misrepresent these master ceramists. It is thus essential to return to the elements of identification. Rereading primary sources written in Arabic, Persian and Ottoman gives evidence to concrete notions and dismisses unfounded suppositions. As the shadow zones round them tend to lead to myths, the objective of the first part of this study is to rectify the knowledge in our possession of the “Masters of Tabriz”.The second part consists of a technical and ornamental analysis of the architectural ceramic tiles. The productions of the “Masters of Tabriz”, principally found in Bursa, Edirne, Istanbul and Jerusalem, are relatively well known. They have been the subject of many publications, but have often been treated transversally. This study offers a new approach, comparing the productions of the four groups of ceramists. This procedure brings to light the progression of this production as it focuses on the artistic correlations and disparities.

Captives. The works of Johannes Schiltberger, George of Hungary and Konstantin Mihailović as testimonies about late medieval search for identity and cultural integration in the Muslim world Bc. Karolina Srncová The master's thesis enquires into the phenomenon of late medieval reflection on Muslim society in captivity narratives, treatises and memoirs from the pen of former Christian captives. Through a comparison of testimonies by three Europeans, who spent long years in Ottoman or Tatar captivity, the thesis investigates the process of their integration in the Muslim world, their perception of this world, and the notion of it they kept after their return to Christian Europe. Apart from the literary reflection on the other the thesis also pursues authors themselves - how they perceived and constructed their cultural identity in the strange environment, what long-term modus vivendi they employed and by what narratives they tried to present their infidel past back in their homeland. Thus the work aims to contribute to our notion of the Christian-Ottoman encounters in the 15th century, but also to consider the cultural adaptability of late medieval man and the role of captives, men between two worlds, who had to cope with the demands of such an adaptation.

Considered one of the pinnacles of the arts of the book in the entire history of Persian art, the life of the Timurid prince, Bāysunghur (1397-1433) and his royal library-atelier have been studied for more than a century. Yet previous scholarship, although solid on it own terms, has not combined study of the entirety of production with sustained analysis of individual productions of Bāysunghur’s atelier. Prior to this study, a number of manuscripts were completely neglected, and several others were studied only briefly. What is more, the single extant document describing procedures and progress in the atelier, although well known, demanded further clarification on various levels. This dissertation discusses in six chapters the operation and productions of the library with particular attention paid to its highlight, Bāysunghur’s famous Shāhnāma. After an introduction to the field and an overview of previous studies, I turn to the report of the head of the atelier, clarifying some technical terms and establishing the date of the report. Secondly, the corpus of Bāysunghurī productions is examined chronologically and in relation to the librarian’s report, with individual manuscripts analysed with regard to their textual and aesthetic traits and their placement in an art historical context. Next, the Shāhnāma of Bāysunghur, which for many years has been inaccessible for close scholarly study, receives extended treatment. The final chapter presents a discussion of the textual and aesthetic content of the corpus and reconsiders the role of the atelier supervisor. The overall aim is to enhance and extend understanding of the arts of the book in a unique royal library, that of Prince Bāysunghur.

Cette thèse est consacrée à l'étude des peintures d'un des manuscrits les plus importants de la tradition persane : une copie du Bustân de Sa‘di réalisée à la cour timouride de Herât vers 894 H./1488. Elle démontre que ces peintures incarnent un changement de fonction de la peinture, d'un dispositif de représentation à un objet de performance. Les peintures présentent plusieurs aspects inédits, qui contredisent la fonction illustrative généralement associée à la peinture persane de manuscrit. La surface de la peinture se couvre de formes qui n'ont aucun rapport avec le texte qu'elle est censée illustrer (chapitre I). Le peintre a également inséré des vers poétiques dans les peintures, qui évoquent le spectateur et constituent un panégyrique de l'image (chapitre II). On note aussi une miniaturisation des formes, visible en particulier à travers la prolifération de motifs linéaires infimes. La finesse de la ligne s'accompagne de la présence, dissimulée dans les détails de la composition, de la signature du peintre Behzâd (chapitre III). Ces aspects donnent à la peinture une dimension réflexive, qui détourne le spectateur du contenu de l'œuvre au profit d'un questionnement sur le statut de l'image et le talent du peintre. Ce changement de fonction s'explique par le rôle croissant du majlis, une assemblée où artistes, poètes et patrons se réunissent pour discuter des œuvres. Dans ce contexte qui annonce l'émergence des écrits historiographiques sur l'art, la peinture est conçue comme un objet de performance, où le peintre dissémine des éléments qui indiquent son talent, et que le spectateur peut utiliser en retour pour créer des discours et des fictions sur l'artiste. / This dissertation examines the paintings of one of the most important manuscripts of the Persianate book tradition: a copy of the Bustân of Sa‘di, executed in the Timurid court of Herât, ca. 894 H./1488. It argues that these paintings embody a shift in the understanding of painting from a device of representation to an object of performance. In the three chapters of the dissertation, I analyze several new characteristics that appear in the paintings of the Bustân. First, the painting becomes filled with elements that are not related to the text copied in the book (chapter I). Second, the monuments depicted are inscribed with poetic verses emphasizing the admiration of the viewer towards the paintings (chapter II). Lastly, the visual information becomes extremely miniaturized. The most meticulous details appear to be minute linear motifs. This emphasis on the line accords with the presence of the signature of the painter Behzâd, embedded in each composition (chapter III).All of these elements shift the attention of the viewer from the content represented in the paintings to the artistic process that led to their creation. By contrasting the paintings with the historical scenarios of their reception, this dissertation sheds light on a hitherto unnoticed aspect of late 9th/15th century Persian painting, one which foreshadows the development of art historiographical writings: the paintings signed “Behzâd” are conceived not only as representational devices, but also as objects of performance, that the painter uses to inscribe his gesture, and whose contemplation causes the viewer to elaborate discourses and fictions on the artist.