The Evolution of Persian Painting: From the Fall of the Safavid Dynasty to the Rise of Qajar Art

Following the decline of the Safavid dynasty in the early 18th century, Persian painting underwent a period of transformation influenced by both internal political shifts and expanding contact with the outside world. The fall of the Safavids marked the end of a centralized system that had heavily patronized miniature painting, particularly within courtly and religious settings. In the absence of strong royal support, painting entered a transitional phase in which artists either adapted their style to suit new patrons or left their crafts behind altogether.