Miniatures Illustrations of Alisher Navoi's Works of the XV-XIXth Centuries

Tashkent, Uzbekistan: Fan, 1982. Hardcover. VG / VG. Brown cloth with gilt titling at spine and gilt decoration to front cover; Color illus. dj.; Illus. endpapers; Approx. 300 pp.; 200+ color color illustrations. Text provided in Uzbek, Russian, and English. Alisher Navoi was an Uzbek who is considered the Father of Uzbek literature. "Alisher Navoi one of the greatest poets of the Medieval East, a statesman, and the founder of Uzbek literature. As a statesmen he is credited for founding, donating, or restoring some 400 religious, educational, and charitable institutions in Khorasan, including mosques, schools, libraries, hospitals, bridges, pools and caravan-serais. He wrote numerous lyrical poems, gazelles, prose work and scientific treatises, mostly in Chagatay (Middle Turic), the language he shaped as classical by importing the elegant style of classical Persian. Chagatay as an official language, started with the publication of Navai’s first collection of poetry 1465. Uzbeks, whose language is descended from Chagatai, claim him to be their national poet. During his career, he wrote 30 works, consisting of about 50 000 verses and a few technical works." These miniatures are illustrations done to complement Navoi's writings. The book includes stunning plates, mostly full-page, and thorough text. Although artists' names are not listed for each illustration, some are included in the text as known calligraphers who worked during the time and worked on Navoi's writings. Really a fascinating look into history, art, writing, illustration, language, and more.