Behzad was born in Herat, a city in modern-day western Afghanistan, between 1455 and 1460. He was orphaned at an early age and raised by the prominent painter and calligrapher Mirak Naqqash, a director of the Timurid royal library. He was also a protégé of Mir Ali Shir Nava'i, a vizier, poet, and humanist, and in the court of Herat during the reign of Timurid Sultan Husayn Bayqarah. In 1486, he was appointed head of the royal ateliers in Herat and succeeded Mirak Naqqash. Under his leadership, the academy reached its greatest period. In 1506, Sultan Husayn Bayqarah died, and a month after his death, Herat was captured by the troops of the Bukhara Khanate, led by Mohammed Sheibani Khan. Some researchers believe that between 1507 and 1510, Behzad was in Bukhara, as he followed Sheibani Khan and other artists from Herat. In 1510, Herat was liberated by Shah Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid dynasty, who invited Behzad to Tabriz, his capital. Behzad accepted the invitation and became the head of the royal ateliers in Tabriz. He died in Herat in 1535 and was buried in the Tomb of Two Kamals, along with his master Kamal al-Din Hasan.Behzad style miniature painting is a type of miniature painting that is named after Kamal ud-Din Behzad. Behzad is considered to be one of the leading artists in the history of Islamic miniature painting, as he developed a new style that used geometry and architectural elements as the structural or compositional structures in which the figures are arranged². He also depicted scenes from Persian literature, history, mythology, religion, and court life with bright and vivid colors, often with gold and silver accents¹. He showed human figures in a stylized and elegant manner, with expressive facial features and gestures². He did not follow the rules of perspective or realism, but rather created a flat and abstract space that is filled with decorative patterns and motifs¹. He was influenced by Chinese art, especially in the use of clouds, mountains, and animals¹. He had different regional schools, such as Herat, Tabriz and Shiraz, that had their own characteristics and preferences¹.

Behzad style miniature painting is a source of pride for the people of Afghanistan, as it reflects the artistic and philosophical views of their culture³. It is transmitted through apprenticeship, in universities and in public and private institutions³. It has also inspired many contemporary artists, such as Hosayn Behzad, who initiated the so-called "New miniature painting" movement in Iran in the 20th century⁴. Behzad style miniature painting is a genre of painting that requires a high level of skill, creativity, and knowledge, as well as a respect for the tradition and the heritage of Persian art⁵.

Behzad's most famous works include "The Seduction of Yusuf" from Sa'di's Bustan of 1488, and paintings from the British Library's Nizami manuscript of 1494-95 - particularly scenes from Layla and Majnun and the Haft Paykar. If you want to learn more about Kamal uddin Behzad and his paintings, you can visit the following websites:

Source: Conversation with Bing, 11/20/2023

(1) Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kam%C4%81l_ud-D%C4%ABn_Behz%C4%81d.

(2) The Tiny Big World of Kamal al-din Bihzad | DailyArt Magazine. https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/persian-leonardo-bihzad/.

(3) Behzad's style of miniature art, Afghanistan - UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/document-6003.