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Illustrations to Varga and Gulshah poem by Ayuki (the only full manuscript dating back to the 13th
century is nowadays cherished at Topkapi Museum, Istanbul, H841) constitute a true starting point in
the history of the Azerbaijani miniature art. The artist, still overtaken by deeply-rooted stereotypes,
succeeded in overcoming static nature and sketchiness so typical of the visual art of the day. The action
is furthermore enriched by additional characters and certain dynamism.
The manuscript comprises 70 sheets, i.e. 140 pages and is written with excellent naskh writing style. As
far as the quality of miniatures is concerned, it clearly testifies to the customer’s royal descent. The very
number of miniatures is amazing: 71 works thoroughly illustrating the poem’s most important episodes.
Majority of miniatures are accompanied with comments made by copiers and the artist, as well as by
later comments of the calligrapher who identified the characters by writing names above each figure. The
poem is in fact a love story with lots of adventures, warfare, unexpected turns resulting in a happy end.
While selecting the most fascinating moments of the narrative the illustrator nonetheless is trying to avoid
the heroes’ psychological description. Rather, he is more likely to portray tears, cries, murders, and other
emotions.
Studies of the manuscript’s miniatures reveals the plentitude of artistic and aesthetic qualities and thus
presents a profound insight to the 13th century miniature art in the Middle East. Varga and Gulshah is
the only early 13th century manuscript completely preserved. The manuscript predates the Mongol
period. The Azerbaijani researchers A. Gaziyev, K. Kerimov and J.Hassanzadeh, in view of the artists’
origin from the Azerbaijani town of Khoy, and taking into consideration stylistic peculiarities of the
works, view the manuscript as the first sample of the Azerbaijani miniature art.