The Past, Present and Future of Persian Art

Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of “The Past and Future of Persian Art”, a public lecture delivered by Arthur Upham Pope (1881-l969), I wish to revisit the question of “Persian” in art history and museology by overviewing ebbs and flows in the 20th century, as well as current debates and future perspectives. Like many other branches of non-European arts, ideas for Persian art were formed and articulated in the interwar period. It was also during this time when a significant change of the Middle Eastern political landscape occurred, notably the birth of a new monarchy in Iran (Pahlavi dynasty, 1925-1979). The opening of the country to western archaeologists culminated in the awakening of Iran’s own interest in the past and, in turn, the historicisation of Persian art as an academic discipline as well as a collectable genre. The rise of the Pahlavis is often associated with cultural rejuvenation in a quest for Iran’s antiquity rather than its heritage after the 7th century. However, medieval and early modern cultural artefacts, ranging from painting, portable objects to architecture, were equally viewed as integral ingredients in the evocation of Persian artistic identity, as manifested in Pope’s series of exhibitions, congresses and publication projects. While exploring the history of Persian art history, my lecture seeks an alternative pathway to generate fruitful discussion concerning art history in general and Persian art in particular.