Mir Sayyid Ali

Removal from court In the 1540s, Shah Tahmasp I became increasingly orthodox and grew to reject artistic representations of living creatures. He lost interest in miniatures, and eventually issued an edict banning secular images throughout Safavid Iran. Artists of his court, including Mir Sayyid Ali, dispersed in all directions. Most took refuge at the court of Shah Tahmasp's nephew, Sultan Ibrahim Mirza.

Humayun service Self-portrait in Indian dress, signed by Mir Sayyid Ali, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1555-56. Meanwhile, the Mughal Emperor Humayun after unsuccessful battles with Sher Shah Suri, lost his throne, and in 1543 arrived in Iran, where Shah Tahmasp gave him a warm welcome and the highest protection. Followed by countless feasts on which Tahmasp persuaded the Sunni Humayun to go to the Shiite faith. While Humayun was staying in Tabriz, he became acquainted with the artists, was fascinated by their works, and two of them were invited to come under his service, as he wanted to create a library-like master of Tabriz. These artists were Abd al-Samad and Mir Musavvir. However, for some reason, instead of Mir Musavvir, the service went to his son Mir Sayyid Ali. though he may have done or corrected much of the underdrawing. But one miniature, "Elijah the prophet rescues drowning Nur ad-Dahr," is credited to Mir Sayyid Ali. Along with the portrait of his father, Mir Musavvir, and the "Wise men, reflecting on the book", this shows his late style.

Legacy Mir Sayyid Ali remained faithful to the end of the Persian tradition and Akbar, where he worked for an international group of artists who advocated the principles of Persian painting. In his works, one can see the influence of his father's and Sultan Muhammad. His work earned him numerous awards and praise. Vizier of Emperor Akbar I, Abu'l-Fazl, in his History of Akbar (Akbarnama) speaks of him the most enthusiastic manner. In al Fadl's the list of the best artists of the era (he counted more than a hundred) Mir Sayyid Ali tied for first place; al Fadl stating: "His art he learned from his father. From the moment he got to the palace, the king's favor beam shone on him. He had distinguished himself by his art ... ". The emperor Humayun gave him the honorary title of "Nadir-ul-Mulk" (The Miracle of the kingdom).

Seven years after the start of the large project for a "Hamzanama" that is, approximately in 1569, the artist left the Mughal court, and as a devout Muslim pilgrim went to Mecca. Some researchers believe that he had died during the Hajj, while others say that he returned to the court of Akbar and died in 1580.