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Kamal ol Molk Tomb , Contemporary Painter of Persia

Kamal ol Molk Tomb, the tomb of the famous Persian painter in the Qajar Period depicts extraordinary works with elegant and pleasant art.
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Introduction to Kamal ol Molk Tomb

Neyshabur is the second-largest city in Khorasan Razavi province, where is the mausoleum of several Persian celebrities and personalities such as Attar of Nishapur, Omar Khayyam, and Kamal ol Molk. The tomb of Kamal-ol-Molk, the most famous Persian painter, is located next to Khayyam’s and adjacent to Attar’s tomb. In addition to the attractive architecture used in the tomb, it has a stunning and lush garden that is quite pleasant for visitors to explore.

History of Kamal ol Molk

Mohammad Ghaffari known as Kamal-ol-Molk was born in 1845 in Kashan in an artist family. He was a famous and naturalist painter in the Qajar period; his art was so elegant and pleasant that it earned him the title of Naghash Bashi (Painter). He left countless works, but after the famous painting of the Mirror Hall, he was nicknamed “Kamal ol-Molk” by Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. The Tomb design was Engineer Hooshang Seyhoun’s work; its construction lasts from 1958 to 1963 with the help of many Neyshaburi artists, under the supervision of this Persian architect. Since then, the mausoleum has hosted many tourists and culture and art lovers.

Architectur of the Tomb

Kamal-ol-Molk Tomb, with an area of 28 square meters, has a combination of traditional and modern architecture, which shows the architect’s art in the tomb. In the general plan of the mausoleum, geometry has a fundamental role also a deep connection with the Persian architectural system. 6 semicircular arches and 4 cross arches were used to construct the building, which is built on square diameters. The collision of these arches and their coverings on the top of the tomb building have created conical geometric shapes that are innovative. It is geometric and shows the peak of architectural creativity in using the elements of traditional Persian architecture. Additionally, the design has given a creative and unique look to the tomb. To design the tomb of Kamal-ol-Molk the architect considered his birthplace and was inspired by the architecture of Kashan.

In the mausoleum, mosaic tile decorations in azure and white colours have been applied with artistic patterns on the curved surfaces of the facade; as the symmetry line of the arches approaches, the size of the designs becomes smaller. The Kamal-ol-Molk Tomb, the decorations, and the colour of the tiles are in harmony with its next building, the Attar Tomb. The materials used in the tomb are concrete, stone, and tiles, and the tombstone is made of granite and rough texture. You can see a relief of Kamal-ol-Molk, which has been carved by his student, in the high and angled upper part of the stone.

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