Javad Rostam Shirazi

"Sultan of Iranian Miniature"

The Life of Javad Rostam Shirazi

Javad Rostam Shirazi was born in 1298 AH (the Islamic calendar) in the Chahar Souq neighborhood of Isfahan. In 1315 AH, he entered the School of Fine Arts and began teaching there in 1322 AH. In 1326 AH, Rostam Shirazi joined the College of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran, where he was trained under Ali Mohammad Heydarian, Aftandilian, and Hassan Foroughi. A year later, he was employed by the Royal Carpet Factory in England to design carpet patterns.

Javad Rostam Shirazi returned to Iran the same year and was employed by the Ministry of Culture and Art. He officially became a teacher at the School of Fine Arts in 1343 AH. Alongside Hossein Behzad, he participated in the Japan exhibition in the same year. In 1349 AH, he began drawing the carpet map for the National Council of Iran, which took two years to complete. He retired in 1354 AH. In 1376 AH, Javad Rostam Shirazi received a first-degree artistic medal from the Ministry of Culture and Art. Finally, on the sixth of Khordad in 1384 AH, he bid farewell to this mortal world.

General Features of the Works of Javad Rostam Shirazi

Features and Works of Javad Rostam Shirazi Include designs in terms of concept, design structure, framing, repetition method, layout, determination of dominant elements' form, number and types of rotations, construction and fabrication, and role-playing.

Javad Rostam Shirazi's ideas

✔Designs are generally decorative and independent of specific themes.
In the case of an inclination towards themed designs, common subjects in carpet design are used, especially in various combinations, with an emphasis on creating diversity and innovation in traditional compositions.
✔Design template: Generally, more wavy motifs, fewer pointed arches, and less elaborate motifs.

✔Design classification:Background: The background is the most crucial part of the design.
The greatest emphasis is placed on unconventionally dividing the background space because the goal is to create creative differentiation in background design.
The background can be divided into two methods:
a. Traditional methods in the form of layers.
b. His method uses the juxtaposition of different surfaces to design patterns in designated spaces without layers.
In determining the dimensions In the works of Javad Rostam Shirazi, the design doesn't strictly adhere to traditional methods. Main sections, especially, and sometimes much larger than common design sizes, are created.

✔Frame and repetition method:
1. In terms of dimensions, adherence to traditional and customary dimensions.
2. traditionally creating simple and complete symmetry.
3. Non-directional patterns, except in prayer rug compositions
✔Determination of dominant elements' form:
1. Overall forms are derived from common traditional forms, but there are differences in details compared to conventional forms.
2. In the design, differences in outer and inner forms are observed compared to common methods. For example, intertwined frames or frames with outer bulges and attached designs are used.

✔Number and type of rotations:
1. The number of rotations in Javad Rostam Shirazi's works is highly diverse, ranging from two to five rotations.
2. In terms of rotation types, spiral, and dancing branch rotations are used.
3. There is a great variety in composition through the use of different rotations in his works, and there is a high level of skill in utilizing them in any given space.
✔Construction and fabrication: Despite using conventional decorations in the construction and fabrication of patterns, he creates variations in their execution details, resulting in distinctiveness in the final construction and fabrication of the patterns.