SAFAVID HERAT, IRAN, 16TH CENTURY

The style of our painting, in particular the execution of the tree leaves and the fine, round facial features of some of the beardless soldiers bear close resemblance to a painting attributed to Bihzad in the Museum of Fine Art Boston (14.569). The careful rendering of the wispy bearded warriors, the dark green ground with scattered flowers and the treatment of the shaded rocks also share close similarities with a painting attributed to Muahammadi from the late 16th century (Soudavar, 1992, p. 238-239, pl. 93). Our painting like the latter two examples is also attributable to Herat and illustrates the continuation of the work of masters such as Bihzad and Muhammadi by their later Safavid disciples.

For a painting attributed to Safavid Herat that had similar treatment of the topographical elements such as the dark green ground with red flowers and defined rock formations, as well as the figures with similar features see Christie’s, London, 21 April 2016, lot 101.