A unique collection of Indo-Iranian miniatures was gifted to Art Palace  by the founder of the “Leuville 1918” society.

Lado Bebia, founder of the “Leuville 1918” society, and Tamaz Gujejiani gifted a remarkable collection of Eastern miniatures, which represents interesting examples from the Indian and Iranian cultural spheres.

The collection includes works from both the Mughal and the Rajput/Pahari schools. Part of the collection was created under the influence of late Mughal (Mongol) painting, likely in the second half of the 19th century or the first half of the 20th century. The works are executed on album leaf (muraqqa') format—with wide decorative borders and calligraphic texts in the upper portion. One of the miniatures depicts a woman under a tree with an open sky, near a small fire. The figure is depicted with an elegant profile; her attire features translucent muslin fabric, gold embroidery, and sophisticated jewelry—all characteristic of the late Mughal aristocratic aesthetic. The composition is minimalist and lyrical.

The second artwork shows an intimate love scene—an aristocratic man and woman in a palace interior. The ornamental floor and architectural niches suggest the influence of the late Mughal school of Awadh or Delhi. Here, the figures are more decorative and less naturalistic than in 17th-century Mughal paintings. The collection also includes a miniature that stylistically belongs to the Rajput or Pahari (Kangra circle) school, the artwork depicts an aristocratic couple in a garden being fanned by a female servant with a peacock feather. The upper portions of the Mughal miniatures feature Arabic-Iranian calligraphic texts (in the Naskhi and Nastaliq scripts).

One of the inscriptions shows the character of a song—on the one hand, it can only be used for chant and listening, but on the other hand, it can also be a form of entertainment. Another text shows with spirituality, indulgence, and forbidden and permitted actions...

The collection, donated to the art palace by “Leuville 1918” founder, Lado Bebia, significantly enriches the museum's Eastern heritage and lays the foundation for its future research and exhibition projects.