This is the Bibliography I give to my students. Here for your convenience:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Any illustrated Shahnamehs (the British Library is a good source as well as worldwide museums and collections of Islamic art); I particularly recommend the David Collection in Copenhagen as a rich source of Islamic art and beautiful museum presentation with free entry
GOOD BACKGROUND READING
Islam and Muslim Art (Translated from the French by Robert Erich Wolf) Hardcover – 1979 by Alexandre Papadopoulo (Author) Harry N. Abrams (1979)
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk - good fictional introduction to the world and context of miniature painters
Persian Paintings Coloring Book (Persian) Paperback – 12 Jan 2016 by Nashre Vohuman (Author, Producer) CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Clr Csm edition (12 Jan. 2016), in Persian language – why not? Might get you used to working with your hands
Persian Miniature Designs (International Design Library) Paperback – 1 Oct 1983 by Stephenson Mojdeh (Author) Stemmer House Publishers Inc.,U.S. (1 Oct. 1983) – in a similar vein; a sourcebook
SCHOLARLY EDITIONS
Mughal Miniatures (Eastern Art) Paperback – 1 Sep 2006 by J M Rogers Interlink Books (1 Sept. 2006)
Paintings from Mughal India Paperback – 30 Aug 2013 by Andrew Topsfield The Bodleian Library (30 Aug. 2013)
The Mughals: Life, Art and Culture: Mughal Manuscripts and Paintings in the British Library Paperback – Illustrated, 24 Sep 2014 by J. P. Losty (Author), Malini Roy (Author), John Falconer (Author), Ursula Sims-Williams (Author), Dr. Muhammad Isa Waley (Author) Roli Books (24 Sept. 2014)
Persian Painting (Eastern Art) Paperback – 7 Jun 1993 by Sheila Canby British Museum Press; 01 edition (7 Jun. 1993)
Persian Painting Paperback – 22 Feb 1996 by Stuart Cary Welch (Author) George Braziller Inc; New edition edition (22 Feb. 1996)
Persian Painting (Treasures of Asia) Paperback – 7 Jul 1977 by Basil Gray Macmillan (7 July 1977) – easy read
Early Persian Painting: Kalila Wa Dimna Manuscripts of the Late 14th Century Hardcover – 21 Feb 2003 by Bernard O'Kane (Author) I.B.Tauris (21 Feb. 2003)
Wonder of the Age: Master Painters of India, 1100-1900 (Metropolitan Museum of Art) Hardcover – 20 Sep 2011 by John Guy (Author), (Author) Yale University Press (20 Sept. 2011)
For the Privileged Few: Islamic Miniature Painting from the David Collection Hardcover – 30 Jul 2008 by Kjeld Von Folsach Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (30 July 2008)
Persian Paintings: From Monguls to the Qajars (Pembroke Persian Papers Series) Hardcover – 22 Feb 2001 by Robert Hillenbrand (Editor) I.B.Tauris (22 Feb. 2001)
Peerless Images: Persian Painting and Its Sources Hardcover – 4 Oct 2002 by Eleanor Sims (Author), Boris I. Marshak (Author), Ernst J. Grube (Author), Hossein Amirsadeghi (Foreword) Yale University Press; 1st edition (4 Oct. 2002) - classic
Islamic miniature painting : Topkapi Saray Museum / by Filiz Cagman, Zeren Tanindi Unknown Binding – 1979
Masterpieces of Chinese Painting: 700 - 1900 Hardcover– 7 Oct 2013 by Hongzing Zhang (Editor) V & A Publishing; 01 edition (7 Oct. 2013) – excellent catalogue and introduction to Chinese painting, and an interesting read
Wonders of the age: Masterpieces of Early Safavid Painting, 1501-1576 Paperback – 1 Jan 1979 by Stuart Cary Welch (Author) Fogg Art Museum (1979) - classic
Princes, Poets and Paladins: Islamic and Indian Paintings from the Collection of Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan Hardcover – 1 Jan 1998 by Sheila R. Canby (Author) British Museum Press; 01 edition (Jan. 1998) - classic
Mostly Miniatures: An Introduction to Persian Painting Paperback – 15 Jan 2002 by Oleg Grabar Princeton University Press (15 Jan. 2002)
The Emperor's Album: Images of Mughal India Hardcover – 1 Jan 1968 by Annemarie Schimmel (Author), Marie Swietochoski (Author), W. M. Thackston(Author), Stuart Cary Welch (Author) Harry N. Abrams, Inc.; 01 edition (1 Jan. 1968)
The King of the World: The Padshahnama - An Imperial Mughal Manuscript from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle Hardcover – 3 Mar 1997 by Milo Cleveland Beach (Author), W. M. Thackston (Author), Ebba Koch(Author) Thames & Hudson Ltd; 01 edition (3 Mar. 1997) – big and heavy book with nice image reproductions
Masterpieces of Islamic Art: The Decorated Page from the 8th to the 17th Century Hardcover – Illustrated, 1 Aug 2009 by Oleg Grabar (Author) Prestel; 01 edition (1 Aug. 2009) – controversial scholar at PSTA but beautiful image reproductions
The Spirit of Indian Painting: Close Encounters with 101 Great Works 1100-1900 by B. N. Goswamy, 2016, London: Thames & Hudson - thick but very readable and enjoyable book about the spirit of all painting, I'd say, with of course a focus on Indian painting, but a widely available and essential book. One of my favourites that I recommend everyone read cover to cover!
GENERAL READING
The Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter Frankopan, Bloomsbury 2015 – highly, highly, highly recommended!!!
Islamic Science: An Illustrated Study (World of Islam Fest. Pub. Co.) Hardcover – 1 Apr 1976 by Seyyed Hossein Nasr – very easy and absorbing read
Of course, it needs updating periodically. Although books aren't published that fast, I know I've missed some gems - please add them to the list if you come across or have any favourite books!