This cross disciplinary conference will explore the history of ideas including the literary and cultural convergences presented in the exhibition Love and Devotion: From Persia and beyond in art, literature, poetry, philosophy, architecture, and history. 

The conference will examine different aspects of these cultural exchanges from the 13th century to the present day and will include Persia, Ottoman Turkey, Mughal India and Western Europe.

Conference program

The State Library of Victoria is also staging a landmark exhibition of 13th - 18th century Persian, Mughal Indian and Ottoman Turkish illustrated manuscripts. For more insight into the this exhibition click on the link:   Exhibition website

Further information: Contact Robert Heather

Bahram Gur hunts in the company of Azada from Firdausi, Shahnama

c. 1425

Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

This rare manuscript of Persia’s greatest epic poem was commissioned by Ibrahim Sultan, governor of Shiraz and grandson of the great Timur who founded the Timurid dynasty. It was created around 1425 and its highly original illustrations influenced later artists.

Presented by the State Library of Victoria in partnership with Australian National University
Supported by The Asian Arts Society of Australia