Collections
This project features miniature paintings from the estate of Mrs. Adrienne Minassian. The paintings often include text from Persian and Indian tales. Many of the illustrations within the Minassian Collection are depictions of stories from the classical Persian text, Shahnama of Ferdowsi.
Mrs. Minassian was one of the few dealers of Islamic art in America. Her personal collection also followed the form of her father's: manuscripts, miniature painting, and ceramics were her major areas of interest. Upon her passing, her gallery closed and her estate was settled in a series of bequests. Brown University was very fortunate to be the prime beneficiary of her extensive family art collection and of many of the articles in her gallery at the time of her death.
The manuscripts and miniature paintings donated by Mrs. Minassian are all presently housed in the John Hay Library. Once Mrs. Minassian's estate was settled in May 1997, the University made plans for formal accession of the manuscript portion of her gift at the John Hay Library. The manuscripts were delivered to the library in January of 1998 and placed in archival storage in the John Hay Library, where they remain today.
The Minassian Collection of Persian, Mughal and Indian Miniature Paintings