Reza Abbasi (d.1635 AD), the son of the painter 'Ali Asghar, also known as Reza Musawwir and Aqa Reza, was a prolific artist of the late 16th and early 17th century, having joined the court of Shah Abbas (r.1588-1629) at Isfahan prior to 1596. His drawing is remarkable for his light airy lines combined with strong, controlled contours, a continuation and culmination of the tradition of the Mashhad artists.
He also produced illustrations for manuscripts as well as the single figures, like the present example, for which he is so well-known.
Similar portraits by the artist are published in Robinson, B.W.: Persian Miniature Painting from Collections in the British Isles, London, 1967, pl.31; Falk, T.: Treasures of Islam, Exhibition Catalogue, Geneva 1985, no.85, p.116 and in the David Collection (von Folsach, K.: Islamic Art, The David Collection, Copenhagen, 1990, no.36, p.55). His pupil Mu'in Musawwir copied a great number of his drawings (see the preceding lot). Despite the clear typical signature on the present lot, written in a space left within the gold floral decoration, one authority has suggested it to be a work of Reza's most gifted pupil.