ied by the wall ornamentation； the

refinement in the use of gold leaf and the delicate balance in the entire

painting’s　position？　Handsome　Hüsrev’s　horse　is　as　graceful　and　elegant　as

a　woman。　His　beloved　Shirin　waits　at　the　window　above　him；　her　neck　bowed；

but　her　face　proud。　It’s　as　if　the　lovers　are　to　remain　here　eternally　within　the

light　emanating　from　the　painting’s　texture；　skin　and　subtle　colors　which　were

applied　lovingly　by　the　miniaturist。　You　can　see　how　their　faces　are　turned　ever

so　slightly　toward　one　another　while　their　bodies　are　half…turned　toward　us—

for they know they’re in a painting and thus visible to us。 This is why they

don’t　try　to　resemble　exactly　those　figures　which　we　see　around　us。　Quite　to

the　contrary；　they　signify　that　they’ve　emerged　from　Allah’s　memory。　This　is

why　time　has　stopped　for　them　within　that　picture。　No　matter　how　fast　the

pace　of　the　story　they　tell　in　the　picture；　they　themselves　will　remain　for　all

eternity　there；　like　well…bred；　polite；　shy　young　maidens；　without　making　any

sudden　gestures　with　their　hands；　arms；　slight　bodies　or　even　eyes。　For　them；

everything within the navy…blue night is frozen： The bird flies through the

darkness；　among　the　stars；　with　a　fluttering　like　the　racing　hearts　of　the　lovers

themselves；　and　at　the　same　time；　remains　fixed　for　all　eter