Ahmad Musa

Ahmad Musa is a Persian artist who worked in Baghdad from 1330 to 1350 .

Ahmad Musa. Archangel Djibrail carries the Prophet Muhammad over the mountains. 1330-1350 Topkapi Museum Saray, Istanbul.

The Persian author of the Treatise on Calligraphers and Artists, Dust Muhammad, who lives in the 16th century, reports on Ahmad Mus in sublime tones. Dust Muhammad considers Ahmad Musa the largest reformer of medieval Persian painting, saying that it was he who "... took the veil from the face of the image ..." and "... created the image that is now in use." Dust Muhammad also reports that he was the author of miniatures for the manuscripts “Abu Said-name”, “Kalila and Dimna”, “Mirajnam” and “The History of Genghis”, which were subsequently in the library of the descendant of Timur Sultan Hussein Baykar .

Ahmad Musa worked during the reign of Abu Saeed (1317-1335) from the Ilkhan dynasty. Today there is not a single miniature signed by Ahmad. With relative confidence, he is credited with several miniatures on the theme of “ Mirajnam ”, cut from an old manuscript, and inserted into the album, known today as “Istanbul” ( Istanbul , Topkapi Saray ). Attribution belongs to the famous researcher Richard Oettinghausen. “Mirajnam” is the story of the mystical journey of the Prophet Muhammad to heaven (the word “miraj” literally means “stairs”). The story of Muhammad's ascension to heaven goes back to the biography of the prophet compiled by Ibn Hashim ("Sirat en Nabi").

Subsequently, this religious plot was described in their works by Haidar and Nizami . A feature of the Istanbul series of miniatures on this subject is that Ahmad Musa created a non-canonical image of this plot, that is, such as is not found in any version of “Mirajnam”. The Prophet Muhammad does not ascend on his horse Burak , but on horseback on the archangel Djibrail , as can be seen in the miniature "The Archangel Djibrail carries Muhammad over the mountains." The Gibrail is depicted in the "Chinese style" - clothes and ribbons are fluttering in the Chinese manner, the type of face of the Gibrail is also Chinese. Muhammad is depicted in a turban, with a beard, and braids, his face is covered with a translucent curtain. Miniatures were created during the period of strong Chinese influence on Persian painting, when the Mongols ruled the country.

Ahmad Musa had disciples; among the most famous Dust Muhammad names Daulat Yara and Shams ad-Din .