Perzië. Dertig eeuwen kunst & cultuur

The Hermitage in St.Petersburg accommodates an interesting collection of art from Persia. This collection contains many interesting pieces of art which cover the whole Persian history as from the antiquity to the end of the Qajar-dynasty (1785-1925). From the antiquity there are some sculptures among which a fragment from the ruined city Persepolis and gold made by the Scythen from the northern and western area of the Persian Empire. Some of the golden objects came originally from the possessions of tsar Peter the Great. There are some nice pieces of Persian ceramics from the Islamic period. Also weapons, made from steel and gold set with colored stones, show the sublime Persian skills in this field. The Qajar-period shows more of the western influence on the traditional Persian Art: the objects from this period are mainly diplomatic gifts and military trophies. The book contains four articles: about the early history of Persia and about the realization of the Persian collection in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. The introduction is taken care by Islam specialist and director of the Hermitage, Prof. dr. Mikhail B. Piotrovsky.