ose　legendary　masters　who’d　done　so　rather　than　work　for　another

monarch or change their styles。 And it was during this age that Abu Said；

Tamerlane’s grandson from the Miran Shah line of descent； introduced a

further　twist　in　his　workshop　after　he’d　conquered　Tashkent　and　Samarkand：

The practice of paying greater homage to the imitation of blindness than to

blindness itself。 Black Veli； the old artisan who inspired Abu Said； had

confirmed　that　a　blind　miniaturist　could　see　the　horses　of　God’s　vision　from

within　the　darkness；　however；　true　talent　resided　in　a　sighted　miniaturist　who

could　regard　the　world　like　a　blind　man。　At　the　age　of　sixty…seven　he　proved　his

point by dashing off a horse that came to the tip of his brush without so

much as a glance at the paper； even as his eyes remained all the while open

and fixed on the page。 At the end of this artistic ceremony for which Miran

Shah had deaf musicians play lutes and mute storytellers recite stories to

support　the　legendary　master’s　efforts；　the　splendid　horse　that　Black　Veli　had

drawn was pared at length with other horses he’d made： There was no

difference whatsoever among them； much to Miran Shah’s irritation；

thereafter； the legendary master declared that a miniaturist possessed of

talent；　regardless　of　whether　his　eyes　are　open　or　closed；　will　always　and　only

see　horses　in　one　way；　that　is；　the　way　that　Allah　perceives　them。　And　among

great master miniaturists； there is no difference between the blind and the

sighted：　The　hand