Originally published: London : British Museum Press, 1999.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-185) and index.

Prelude to the Conquest -- Like a Burning Sun Shah Isma%60il I (1501-1524) -- The Years of War Shah Tahmasp at Tabriz (1524-1555) -- A New Capital and New Patrons Shah Tahmasp at Qazvin (1555-1576) -- The Lowest Ebb Shahs Isma%60il II and Muhammad Khudabandeh (1576-1587) -- From Qazvin to Isfahan The Glorious Reign of Shah %60Abbas I (1587-1629) -- A Voluptuous Interlude Shah Safi (1629-1642) -- A New Focus Shah %60Abbas II (1642-1666) -- The Patrimony Squandered Shah Sulayman (Safi II, 1666-1694) -- Disintegration of the Dynasty Shah Sultan Husayn (1694-1722) -- Epilogue: The Safavid Legacy.

The golden age of Persian art was the era of the Safavid dynasty. In this time of dynamic religious and political developments, painting and textiles achieved new heights of brilliance and opulence, and architecture flourished with the growth of cities.

This resplendent volume provides a chronological history of the reign of each successive Safavid shah, including that of Shah 'Abbas I, who came to the throne in 1588. He not only built grand mosques and palaces, but also welcomed foreign travelers -- and their artistic influences -- to his court.

The superb illustrations complement a much-needed text by a leading scholar in the field. This volume is sure to become a standard reference on this sublime period in Persian painting, architecture, illuminated manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, and other decorative arts.