Serving a source of inspiration for miniature-painters of the entire Moslem Orient and Azerbaijan was the classic oriental poetry. The oldest patterns of the Azerbaijani miniature renowned today are “Varga and Gulsha” (earlier 13 century); “Manafi al-heyvan” (1298); “Jami at-tavarih” (1308, 1314) bear out the establishment of Tabriz school – new school of miniature in the Orient.
Appearance, formation and development of Tabriz school of miniature proceeded due to the influence of various artistic trends on local traditions. One of the influence factors was the Chinese-Uygur art of East Turkestan which came together with Tatar-Mongols; another factor was Arab-Mesopotamian traditions which came up as a result of the Baghdad school. Tabriz miniatures of 1330-1340 to “Shahname” are indicative to a new trend in the art of miniature not only in Azerbaijan but the entire Orient as well. Their greater portion was written by well- known miniature painter of the 15 century Shamsaddin; and the rest by his disciple Abulkhay sent later to Samarqand by Timur.
In the 15 century, many well-known Azerbaijani miniature painters and other skilful masters were invited to come to Herat as center of Timurid Empire. Top positions in the court library were taken by poets Jafar Tabrizi Baysunguri, Pir Seyid Ahmad, disciple of the gresat Iranian and Azerbaijani miniature painter Kamaleddin Behzad, Hadja Ali Mushavvir, Gavameddin, Giyaseddin. They played a crucial role in formation and development of the artistic school in Herat. In spite of the fact that Tabriz school yielded its leading positions to Herat school, it played an important role in the creation of artistic schools of some neighboring countries. It was no mere coincidence Tabriz school is titled as foundation of all miniature schools.