Decorated calligraphic panel

Details

Decorated calligraphic panel
by Isma'il Jalayir
Persia, circa 1860

gouache on buff card, comprising a Persian couplet of Sa'di interspersed with others similar, the main couplet written in large nasta'liq painted in black, the interiors of the letters filled with closely drawn flowers, the other couplets in smaller white nasta'liq, the remaining space decorated with the finely painted workings of a dense design of flowers and birds in black, white, red, green and touches of blue, (slightly trimmed, negligible wear, very minor staining to bottom edge, one corner creased), signed in the bottom left-hand corner by Isma'il Jalayir
20¼ x 42¾in. (51.5 x 108.6cm.)

Lot Essay

Isma'il Jalayir flourished in the reign of Nasr al-Din Shah. One of the most original and talented painters of his time, and a great favourite of the Shah, he sadly went mad and finally committed suicide.
Though slightly more compact than some works, the style, content and decoration of this calligraphic panel are all typical of the gulzar style of Jalayir. It is particularly interesting to be able to see his initial workings where his fluid drawing, sureness of line and balanced design are, if anything, more apparent than in a finished work.

Falk, T. (Ed.): Treasures of Islam, exhibition catalogue, Geneva 1985, pp. 190-191

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