Everyone knows that this image is associated with the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi.
But is the person depicted in the portrait truly Nizami Ganjavi himself? If so, further questions naturally arise: who could have painted this image in the 12th century, and how could it have survived to the present day?
According to research by historian Araz Valiyev, in 1939 the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan SSR decided to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi. However, there was no authentic visual representation of Nizami available for the jubilee. As a result, a competition was announced. Historians, literary scholars, and artists were involved in the process. A portrait of Nizami Ganjavi was created.
When Nizami scholars such as Yevgeny Bertels, philosopher Heydar Huseynov, and literary critic Hamid Arasli described what Nizami’s appearance might have been like, the great composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov put forward an idea. He suggested:
“There is a mullah in Aghjabadi whose facial features and overall appearance fully match the parameters you described. I know him.”
After dressing this man in costumes obtained from the Museum of History and Local Lore, the artist Gazanfar Khaligov observed him and painted the portrait of Nizami Ganjavi. His work won the competition.
Thus, the widely used portrait of the great poet Nizami Ganjavi that we recognize today was created and has been used ever since.
AzEns.org.az/ Jalya Orujeva