Mirza Teher Razavi’s Narration of the Bombardment of Holy Shrine of Imam Reza

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Researcher in department of Culture and Art, Islamic Research Foundation of Astan Quds Razavi

Abstract
The archive of Astan Quds Razavi Central Library hold as picture that illustrates the incident of bombardment of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza in 1330 AH. This picture is a significant document from various historical and artistic aspects. It has been drawn and published to inform a specific event in a special way. Mirza Taher Mosanne Razavi, an artist and craftsman who held the positions of deputy supervisor of lighting and clock making of the Holy Shrine, portrayed the event in an impressive and detailed way when Russians invaded the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza. Although the historical resources narrate the event with different details, delving into the sources of the event and comparing them with Mirza Taher’s picture, will shed light on the his look at the event and as well as the tricks and elements he used to make it more impressive. This picture is one of the earliest examples that have been produced for artistic informing and propagating against the invading forces that was produced and published in the form of a lithographic monograph. Therefore, this work is a significant document about a historical even, a narrative mixed with artistic impression that is close to the event in terms of the time of the event. Moreover, the picture is significant as it narrates and informs, shows the artist’s view and emphasis on using impressive elements and his use of lithography to raise awareness about a specific event. As the artist was an artist from Mashhad, who served the pilgrims of the Holy Shrine.

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