Mohammad Zaman ibn Haji Yusof Qomi, known as Mohammad Zaman (; fl. 1650 – c. 1700), was a famous Iranian calligrapher and painter of the Safavid period.
Life Despite being a well-known artist in mid and late 17th-century Safavid Iran, his life is shrouded in mystery, it was previously claimed that the painter Mohammad Zaman was born in Kerman, Persia to Haji Yusuf, and received his education in Tabriz by Nicholas Martinovich and Fredrik Martin, it is likely that they mixed up the painter with another man with the same name. The date and place of birth of the Safavid painter Mohammad Zaman remain unknown. Similarly, the claim that he was sent by Shah Abbas II of Persia to Rome to study Italian painting, and there he converted to Christianity cannot be confirmed. The Persian paintings signed or attributed to Mohammad Zaman in fact reference Flemish engravings instead of Italian sources. Therefore, it likely was a different man bearing the same name who converted, took the name of Paolo, and was forced to flee to India because of his conversion to Christianity.
The artist Mohammad Zaman made paintings for manuscripts such as Nizami's Khamsa or the Shahnameh as well as some paintings with European subject matter. Furthermore, he was influential in training several other painters, including Mohammad-Ali and Mohammad-Ebrahim.
Notable works YearTitleMediumDimensionsCurrent locationPlace of Creation1660–1675 CEThe Night Halt (Saint Petersburg Album Page)Ink, colors and gold on paper13.5 x 20.1 in. (34.5 x 51 cm)Louvre MuseumIran1663–1664 C.E.Blue IrisInk, opaque watercolor on paper; gilded bordersSheet: 13 1/16 x 8 3/8 in. (33.2 x 21.3 cm)Brooklyn MuseumIsfahan, Iran1663–69 CEShahnama (Book of Kings) of FirdausiOpaque watercolor, ink, silver and gold on paper18 1/2 x 11 1/8 in. (47 x 28.2 cm)Metropolitan Museum of ArtLikely Isfahan, Iran1664–65 CEA Night-time GatheringInk, opaque watercolor, and gold on paperPage: 13 1/8 x 8 1/4 in. (33.3 x 21 cm) Mat: 19 1/4 in x 14 1/4 in. (48.9 x 36.2 cm)Metropolitan Museum of ArtIran or India1675–76 CEBahram Gur proves his worthiness by killing a dragon and recovering treasure from a cave (in Khamsa of Nizami)London, British Library, Or. 2265, ff.203v.Painting on paper8.6 x 7.1 in (21.9 x 18.1 cm)The British LibrarySafavid Iran1675–76 CEEpisode from the Indian Princess’s story: King Turktazi’s visit to the magical garden of Turktaz, Queen of the Faeries (in Khamsa of Nizami)London, British Library, Or. 2265, fol. 221v.Painting on paper9.9 x 7.1 in (25.2 x 18 cm)The British LibrarySafavid Iran1675–76 CEThe servant girl Fitnah impresses Bahram Gur with her strength by carrying an ox on her shoulders (in Khamsa of Nizami)London, British Library, Or. 2265, f. 213r.Painting on paper8.3 x 5.1 in (21 x 13 cm)The British LibraryMazandaran Province1675–1676 CEThe sīmurgh arrives to assist Rūdāba with the birth of Rustam, from the Book of Kings (Shāhnāma)Pigment, gold pigment, and ink on paper408 mm x 261 mmChester Beatty LibraryIsfahan, Iran1675–1676 CESalm and Tūr organise the murder of their brother Īraj, from the Book of Kings (Shāhnāma)Pigment, gold pigment, and ink on paper408 mm x 262 mm Chester Beatty LibraryIsfahan, Iran1676 CEMajnun visited by his fatherOpaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper.Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Lent by The Art and History CollectionIsfahan, Iran1680 CEJudith with the Severed Head of HolofernesInk, gold and opaque watercolor on paper; mounted as an album page on cardPage: 13.1 x 8.2 in (33.5 x 21 cm) Painting excluding floral paneling: 7.9 x 6.6 in (20.1 x 17 cm)The Khalili Collection of Islamic ArtIsfahan, Iran
Six of his paintings from 1678 to 1689 were of Biblical scenes. A painting of Judith with the severed head of Holofernes, currently in the Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, is signed "Ya sahib al-zaman", one of the titles of the 12th Shia Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi. Mohammad Zaman used this phrase in place of a signature, and on that basis the painting is attributed to him.
Farangi-Sazi Mohammad Zaman favored night scenes, and his work combined multiple influences, drawing subjects from European paintings but with Mughal or Kashmiri stylistic touches. He introduced a European style to Safavid painting in manuscripts known as farangi-sazi.Landau, Amy S. “‘Man, Mode, and Myth: Muhammad Zaman Ibn Haji Yusuf.’” Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, and Poets at the Great Islamic Courts, 2015. This style combines Persian iconography and compositional elements with more European elements, such as chiaroscuro, atmospheric effect, and “Western” perspective. The style could also be seen in his forest scenes, which include exaggerated forms, heavy contrasts between light and dark, and picturesque mountains and streams.
Contributions to the Khamsa of Nizami The Khamsa of Nizami, a manuscript of five poems by poet Nizami Ganjavi, is known for its Safavid illustrations—three of which are attributed to Mohammad Zaman. It has been suggested that he produced these paintings in the 17th century as additions to the original manuscript. It is also suggested that the paintings by Mohammad Zaman were inserted in the Khamsa of Nizami after being removed from somewhere else, as there is some damage to the upper sections. His signature and the date inscription can be found on two of the paintings, however all three resemble another painting attributed to Mohammad Zaman, "Majnun in the Wilderness."Soucek, Priscilla; Isa Waley, Muhammad (2011). "The Nizāmī Manuscript of Shāh Tahmāsp: A Reconstructed History". A Key to the Treasure of the Hakim: Artistic and Humanistic Aspects of Nizami Ganjavi’s Khamsa. Amsterdam University Press. pp. 195–210.
Mohammad Zaman's depiction of the tale of Bahram Gur and the Indian Princess features wingless faeries, different from other depictions of the scene. The text adjacent to the image is a section of the Tale of the Indian Princess, which ends with a description of food and wine for a banquet in the King and Queen's pavilion. However, Mohammad Zaman's depiction does not include this pavilion scene, instead depicting King Turktazi and the Queen of the Faeries.
Some of his notable students include 'Ali Ashraf.
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