The so-called Mosul School of Painting refers to a style of miniature painting that developed in northern Iraq in the late 12th to early 13th century under the patronage of the Zangid dynasty (1127-1222). In technique and style the Mosul school was similar to the painting of the Seljuq Turks; who controlled Iraq at that time; but the Mosul artists had a sharper sense of realism based on the subject matter and degree of detail in the painting rather than on representation in three dimensions; which did not occur.

Most of the Mosul iconography was Seljuq - for example; the use of figures seated cross-legged in a frontal position. Certain symbolic elements however; such as the crescent and serpents; were derived from the classical Mesopotamian repertory.

Most Mosul paintings were illustrations of manuscripts鈥攎ainly scientific works; animal books; and lyric poetry. A frontispiece painting; now held in the Biblioth猫que National; Paris; dating from a late 12th century copy of Galen's medical treatise; the Kitab al-diriyak ('Book of Antidotes'); is a good example of the earlier work of the Mosul school. It depicts four figures surrounding a central; seated figure who holds a crescent-shaped halo. The painting is in a variety of whole hues; reds; blues; greens; and gold. The K眉fic lettering is blue.