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Lot Essay
A number of other versions of paintings of Muhammad ‘Ali the Gilder are known, all ascribed to Reza 'Abbasi but rejected by Sheila Canby. One, very similar to ours in style, is in the Keir Collection (B.W. Robinson et al. Islamic Painting and the Arts of the Book, London, 1976, no. III.351, and pl. 81). Another is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc.no.55.121.25) and others are noted by Sheila Canby in The Rebellious Reformer, London, 1996, no. 590, p.210. The existence of the present painting indicates that at least one of the Reza paintings is authentic as the inscription here states clearly that the artist 'is copying it from the work of my master Reza'.
Although the inscription does not give his name, the artist of this painting is very likely to be Mu'in Musavvir. The inscriptions are in his hand and he signs as a student of Reza. Mu’in Musavvir was one of Reza ‘Abbasi’s most brilliant followers and is known to have copied the work of his master. There are a few instances where we know both the original by Reza and the later version by Mu’in. One such examples is the Nashmi Kaman-dar, ‘the Archer’, where the original by Reza is in the Harvard Art Museum (1960.197) and a copy by Mu’in is in the Smithsonian (S1998.15).
A Muhammad ‘Ali Muzahhib is mentioned by Schulz and Binyon et al. mention a Muhammad ‘Ali, a follower of Reza ‘Abbasi (Laurence Binyon, J.V.S. Wilkinson and Basil Gray, Persian Miniature Painting, London 1971 reprint, p.160). It is possible that the picture is a portrait of this artist.
Although the inscription does not give his name, the artist of this painting is very likely to be Mu'in Musavvir. The inscriptions are in his hand and he signs as a student of Reza. Mu’in Musavvir was one of Reza ‘Abbasi’s most brilliant followers and is known to have copied the work of his master. There are a few instances where we know both the original by Reza and the later version by Mu’in. One such examples is the Nashmi Kaman-dar, ‘the Archer’, where the original by Reza is in the Harvard Art Museum (1960.197) and a copy by Mu’in is in the Smithsonian (S1998.15).
A Muhammad ‘Ali Muzahhib is mentioned by Schulz and Binyon et al. mention a Muhammad ‘Ali, a follower of Reza ‘Abbasi (Laurence Binyon, J.V.S. Wilkinson and Basil Gray, Persian Miniature Painting, London 1971 reprint, p.160). It is possible that the picture is a portrait of this artist.