The Diez Albums, also known as the Saray Album due to their Istanbul origin. These albums contain a total of 450 items and offer valuable insights into the development of book art.
A significant portion of the materials can be attributed to the Mongol or Ilkhanid period in Persia. Nonetheless, there are also drawings that date back to the Timurid era. The Albums comprise not only paintings and drawings but also calligraphies, woodcuts, and engravings. Some of the miniatures in the albums were taken from illustrated manuscripts at an early date, while others were preparatory drawings intended for transfer to other materials. Overall, Diez’s contributions have had a lasting impact on the study of art and literature in Central Asia.
The existence of the album remained hidden from science for a long time until 1956. In 1964, the entire album was published by M. Ş. İpṣiroğlu as “Saray Albums: Diez’sche Klebebände aus der Berliner Sammlung” in the VOHD series.
Grandees, the Timurids, second half of the 15th century
On a stool, a nobleman sits, bending his left leg. He holds a cloth with his right hand resting in his lap, while between the index finger and thumb of his left hand, he holds a small pear-shaped object. The part of the garment that covers his chest, shoulders, and upper arms is adorned with colorful embroidery, depicting swirls of clouds and two antithetical dragon figures. A similar motif is also present on a broad border attached to the lower part of the garment, though it is not executed in color. The dress, closely fitting the upper body, is fastened at the front with three bows and held at the waist by a belt, in which a delicate dagger is tucked.
The face is drawn with special care. The drowsy eyes beneath the pointed fur cap, the delicate slightly curved nose, and the small, narrow mouth between the plump cheeks and the double chin indicate that the artist placed great value on achieving a portrait-like resemblance, albeit in an idealized form.