maybe by the sultan’s favorite in the harem—and that they were legendary for
a time! I’m also convinced that for this very reason all the mediocre
miniaturists; muttering enviously to themselves; imitated this horse and
multiplied its image。 In this fashion; the wonderful horse with its nostrils
gradually became a model of form ingrained in the minds of the artists in that
workshop。 Years later; after their rulers were defeated in battle; these painters;
like somber women headed to other harems; found new shahs and princes to
work for in new countries; and carried with them; stowed in their memories;
the image of horses whose nostrils were elegantly cut open。 Perhaps under the
influence of different styles and different masters in different workshops;
many of the artists never made use of and eventually forgot this unusual
image which noheless remained preserved in a corner of their minds。
Others; however; in the new workshops they joined; not only drew elegant
clipped…nosed horses; they also taught their pretty apprentices to do the same
with the encouragement that ”this is how the old masters used to do it。“ So
then; in this manner; even after the Mongols and their hardy horses retreated
from the lands of the Persians and Arabs; even centuries after new lives had
begun