.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This painting is attributable to Muhammad Qasim, a contemporary of Reza 'Abbasi, who was active during the reign of Shah 'Abbas I. Reclining youths such as that found in our painting are comparatively rare in contrast to the numerous contemporaneous portraits of seated or standing figures. However, there are a few examples by Muhammad Qasim’s contemporary, Reza 'Abbasi, including two ladies, the 'Sleeping Woman' in a private collection and the 'Reclining Nude' in the Freer Gallery of Art (inv. no. 54.24) (see Canby, 1996, pp.28-31, nos.7 and 8).
In our painting, the young man is depicted in a relaxed pose, propped up on his elbow leaning against cushions, with one hand holding a wine cup and the other placed on an open manuscript. His gaze looks in to the distance as though deep in thought. The background is illustrated with delicate foliage and plants also characteristic of both Reza 'Abbasi and Muhammad Qasim’s single figure drawings.
The three main colours used in our painting are green usually derived from malachite, two distinct shades of blue which were derived from lapis lazuli and gold. These were fashionable colours during this period as evident from similar extant examples such as lot 54 by Reza 'Abbasi in this sale. Other works attributed to Muhammad Qasim in which he uses full colour include an album page in the Freer and Sackler collection (S1986.305). Works by him have sold at auction including Christie’s, London, 6 October 2009, lot 119 and Sotheby’s, London, 7 October 2015, lot 262.
In our painting, the young man is depicted in a relaxed pose, propped up on his elbow leaning against cushions, with one hand holding a wine cup and the other placed on an open manuscript. His gaze looks in to the distance as though deep in thought. The background is illustrated with delicate foliage and plants also characteristic of both Reza 'Abbasi and Muhammad Qasim’s single figure drawings.
The three main colours used in our painting are green usually derived from malachite, two distinct shades of blue which were derived from lapis lazuli and gold. These were fashionable colours during this period as evident from similar extant examples such as lot 54 by Reza 'Abbasi in this sale. Other works attributed to Muhammad Qasim in which he uses full colour include an album page in the Freer and Sackler collection (S1986.305). Works by him have sold at auction including Christie’s, London, 6 October 2009, lot 119 and Sotheby’s, London, 7 October 2015, lot 262.