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Efforts aimed at preserving, studying, and widely promoting Uzbekistan’s rich historical, artistic, and intellectual heritage are continuing at a new stage. At the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the preservation, research, and promotion of ancient written sources, the in-depth study of the country’s manuscript heritage, and its transmission to future generations have been elevated to the level of state policy.

As part of these initiatives and the attention devoted to this field, work has begun on publishing an updated and expanded edition of another important publication designed to introduce unique examples of Uzbekistan’s manuscript heritage to a wider audience — the book-album “Historical Figures in Uzbekistan’s Manuscript Heritage.”

Currently, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, is at the Mega Basım publishing house in Istanbul, Türkiye, where the processes related to preparing the book-album for publication and printing are underway.

The result of five years of scholarly research, this book-album brings together rare Eastern miniatures created between the 13th and 18th centuries. It features miniatures depicting rulers, statesmen, poets, scholars, and artists associated with the history of Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

Alongside depictions of such great ancestors as Amir Temur, Mirzo Ulugbek, Alisher Navoi, Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, Husayn Bayqara, and Ibn Sina, the book also includes rare portraits of other historical figures identified in various museums and libraries.

Extensive cooperation was established with museums, libraries, and research institutions in different countries throughout the project. Over the course of five years, partnerships were developed with more than 200 museums, libraries, and academic institutions in over 45 countries, both in Uzbekistan and abroad, and more than 50 research expeditions were conducted.

As a result, 185 miniatures dating from the 13th to the 18th centuries were identified and studied on the basis of sources preserved in 50 research institutions, libraries, and museums around the world. These include the Freer Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Library, the National Library of France, Cambridge University Library, the Topkapi Palace Library, and other prestigious institutions.

The many years of scholarly research and international cooperation carried out within the “Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan” series also provided an important foundation for the creation of the book-album. To date, 80 book-albums have been prepared as part of this series, a significant number of which are devoted to Uzbekistan’s manuscript heritage.

The new edition has been revised on the basis of the previous version and enriched with new information and analytical materials, taking into account the proposals and recommendations of local and international experts. Images of more than 20 additional historical figures preserved in foreign museums and libraries have also been included in the book-album.

The book-album has been prepared in Uzbek, Russian, and English. Its printing is currently underway at the Mega Basım publishing house in Istanbul.

Through this publication, Uzbekistan’s rich manuscript heritage, the art of Eastern miniature painting, and unique sources depicting historical figures will be presented more widely to the international academic and cultural community.