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Lot Essay
The reverse of this painting has the octagonal seal of a Yusuf Nabi and an inscription by him dated AH 1112/1700-01 AD. It is possible that this is the seal of the poet Yusuf Nabi (1642-1712). There is also an Imperial library seal which - though rubbed - is of the type used by Mahmud II. The tughra is however worn and not legible.
This painting is probably half of a frontispiece, the other half of which would have depicted Bilqis the Queen of Sheba. This was a popular subject and offered a painter a chance to showcase his ability to produce depictions of a wide range of animals, birds and imaginary creatures. There are several other comparable scenes also attributed to Shiraz and dated to circa 1580-85 (Lâle Uluç, Turkman governors: Shiraz artisans and Ottoman collectors, Istanbul, 2006, nos.137, 175, 229). The composition remains similar but the individual ingenuity of each artist can be seen in the inventive details of the creatures which surround Solomon. A further similar depiction of this scene was sold in these Rooms, 25 April 2013, lot 108.
This painting is probably half of a frontispiece, the other half of which would have depicted Bilqis the Queen of Sheba. This was a popular subject and offered a painter a chance to showcase his ability to produce depictions of a wide range of animals, birds and imaginary creatures. There are several other comparable scenes also attributed to Shiraz and dated to circa 1580-85 (Lâle Uluç, Turkman governors: Shiraz artisans and Ottoman collectors, Istanbul, 2006, nos.137, 175, 229). The composition remains similar but the individual ingenuity of each artist can be seen in the inventive details of the creatures which surround Solomon. A further similar depiction of this scene was sold in these Rooms, 25 April 2013, lot 108.