Persia, which was focused on modern-day Iran, was home to a large empire that existed in three stages. Under Cyrus the Great (550–330 BCE), the Achaemenids created the first Persian Empire, which swiftly extended its frontiers. The Persian Empire was dominated by Zoroastrianism, an ancient monotheistic religion until Islam superseded it in the seventh century CE. While the empire's religion was distinct, its art was primarily syncretic, incorporating the styles of many conquered and adjacent peoples. As a result, a new, distinct Persian style emerged.

The emergence of Persian Art:

Painting, ceramics, sculpture, metallurgy, calligraphy, weaving, and architecture are some of the mediums used in Persian art, also known as Iranian art. As the ancient area of Persia grew, the art movement absorbed numerous influences from surrounding nations, dictating the style of the artworks produced. Persian art is one of the world's richest art heritages, with the oldest influences going back to around 550 BCE.

History of Persian Art:

Persian art was inspired by Sumerian, Greek, and notably Chinese art throughout its dominance. Persian miniatures, which appeared as little paintings done on paper as either a book illustration or a solo piece of art, reflecting the influence of traditional Chinese features. These miniatures were created to be stored in a muraqqa, a book of tiny works. Persian art miniatures now include some of the most important Persia artwork from that periowasSusa’sd.

In the second half of the sixth century BCE, the area of Persia in what is now Iran built an enormous empire that stretched from the Indus Valley to Northern Greece and Central Asia to Egypt. The Persian art era is said to have started with the First Persian Empire, also known as the Achaemenid Empire, which lasted from 550 to 330 BCE

The era of the Achaemenids (550–330 BCE)

The Achaemenid Era was known as the First Persian Empire, and it was founded by Cyrus, the Great. It lasted from 550 to 330 BCE and was heavily inspired by both Greek and Egyptian art. The Achaemenid Empire's art relied on earlier models in an attempt to enhance them, with architecture serving as the primary form of art developed and regenerated throughout this period.

A succession of enormous palace complexes was erected at Persepolis, the capital city, and Susa’s finest exemplified Persian art under the First Empire. Since the Achaemenids worked mostly on stone, these palaces were often decorated with sculptures and ornate stone bas-reliefs. The Archers frieze of Susa, a significant enameled brick decoration that decorated the royal palace of Darius I (r. 522-486 BCE) in Susa, is still in existence today, displaying the popular style of stonework. It still can be seen at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

The Parthian Era ( 247 BCE – 224 CE) 

Persian art was quickly supplanted by Parthian art when the Achaemenid Empire fell to Alexander the Great in 330 BCE. This was a transitional period between the First and Second Persian Empires, lasting from  247 BCE until 224 CE. This resulted in an unflattering combination of Greek and Iranian elements in the art produced, with Greek culture temporarily prevailing.

After Alexander the Great's death, Persian art came under the full influence of the Parthians, who enabled the development of Persian art and architecture to continue. The Parthians were originally semi-nomadic people, and the art style reflected the numerous various locations with which they had come into touch. Despite the variety of the sculptures and monuments, Parthian art maintained several fundamentals that had been established in prior Achaemenid works.

The Parthian culture was an unappealing combination of Greek and Iranian elements, with sculpted heads and fresco wall paintings seen on monuments and in structures. Parthian art and architecture were claimed to have been heavily influenced by Hellenistic and Mesopotamian styles, which these nomads drew upon to create art that was uniquely their own. The Parthians, for example, created domes that were based on established Roman style but developed on by the Parthians. Parthian domes were built straight from the soil, whereas Roman domes were built on top of structures. The Second Persian Empire, often known as the Sassanid Empire, started when Parthian art achieved its pinnacle. Despite being a brief intermission between the two empires, the Parthian Era had a huge impact on the development of Persian art, since it was frequently referenced in the creation of some of the world's most notable monuments and works of art.

The Sassanid Era (c. 226–650 CE) 

After the Parthian Era, the Second Persian Empire, known as the Sassanid Era, arose, spanning roughly from 226 CE until around 650 CE. This period of art was seen as exceptional since it was able to restore much of Persia's strength and culture that had previously been lost. Ardashir I (c. 224-240 CE), a Parthian commander who overthrew the last Parthian monarch and created his dynasty, founded the Sasanian Empire.

Sassanid artisans created highly beautiful stone mosaics as well as a variety of gold and silver plates depicting animals and hunting scenes. The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg owns the largest collection of these dining and cooking utensils. Frescoes and illuminated manuscripts, in addition to mosaic and metalwork, were two more art forms that flourished during this time. Rock sculptures cut out of jagged limestone cliffs were among the most stunning Sasanian art to emerge during this period. Many other triumphs of the different Sassanid leaders of the time were depicted in these sculptures.

Carpet-making and silk-weaving were two significant creative crafts that emerged from the Second Persian Empire and are still in use today. This ability resulted in the creation of the famous Persian carpets, which were exported to the West to Istanbul and the East to Turkey. Thus, Sasanian art is often regarded as the pinnacle of Persian creative achievement, as it incorporated and emphasized the finest features of ancient Persian culture into the sculptures and artworks crafted.

Persia Under the rule Of Islam

Persia was conquered by Arabs after the collapse of the Sassanid Empire, and as a result, became a part of Islam. Therefore, Persian visual arts evolved in accordance with the emerging Islamic norms, resulting in a change in the artmaking process. One of these regulations prohibited the portrayal of three-dimensional live beings, resulting in an immediate fall in Persian sculpture production.

Development of Paintings during the time of Islamic rule in Persia

The painting was regarded as a significant type of art in Islamic Persia. Persian miniature paintings, which grew into a prominent art tradition in Iran, were the most important form of painting to emerge during this period.

Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād was the most significant Persian miniature painter of this period, whose works began to thrive around the end of the 15th century. Behzd became the head of the Herat Academy of Painting and Calligraphy after becoming well-known for his landscape paintings, which he created in an exceptionally realistic way with the use of a bright color palette. Mountain landscapes and hunting themes grew more popular throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, and Behzd was thought to be inspired by them. Portrait art began to grow and become trendy in various creative civilizations when Behzd's very realistic paintings were made. However, when painters attempted to imitate European painting techniques in the late 1600s, Iranian art traditions began to wane significantly.
The arts of ancient Persia had a long history due to the era's various phases of expansion and transition. Persian art and architecture have continued to have a significant impact on the modern art world. The majority of traditional artworks honor past conventions by incorporating components that functioned well and improve on them. Rugs, sculptures, pottery, and textiles are among the most popular art media today, and some artists have even continued to work with the same materials as their forefathers.