Mir Emad Hassani

Mir Emad Hassani (1554 to 1615) was a Persian calligrapher born in Qazvin during the Safavid era, regarded as perhaps the most celebrated calligrapher in Persian history. He brought the Nastaliq script to what is considered its highest elegance, and his surviving calligraphic specimens are held in museum collections worldwide. Working under the patronage of Shah Abbas in Isfahan, he founded a calligraphic family dynasty that included his daughter Goharshad, her husband and their sons, as well as his own son and grandson. His life ended in 1615 when he was assassinated on accusations of practicing Sunni Islam, forbidden under Safavid rule.