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Lot Essay
Full-length portraits of young men, women and couples became a popular subject in Safavid miniature painting in the late 16th and 17th centuries. The theme was popularized by Reza ‘Abbasi and his contemporaries, foremost among them Muhammad Qasim.
Our elegant youth is attributable to the school of Reza ‘Abbasi. The features of this Safavid youth are closely comparable to a number of signed works by Reza, in particular his 'Youth Offering Fruits to an Old Man', circa 1595 (Muse du Louvre, Paris, inv. no. 7113, see Canby, 1996, cat.21) and Man in a Fur Lined Coat, circa 1600 (Metropolitan Museum of Art, inv. no. 55.121.39, see Canby, 1996, cat.32). Although in these examples the subjects are seated rather than standing, both figures bear a generous full face and a finely pencilled Safavid turban which is more prominent at the front. The execution of the soft curls around the face and turban and the delicately drawn nose done by a single brush stroke extending to two faint lines that highlight the upper lip are further distinguishable similarities. A closely comparable portrait of a Safavid youth signed by Reza sold in these Rooms, 8 October 2015, lot 50. Another example was sold more recently in these Rooms, 10 May 2018, lot 1007.
For a discussion on the 17th century calligrapher Muhammad Salih on the verso see Bayani vol.3, 1348 sh, p.778.
Our elegant youth is attributable to the school of Reza ‘Abbasi. The features of this Safavid youth are closely comparable to a number of signed works by Reza, in particular his 'Youth Offering Fruits to an Old Man', circa 1595 (Muse du Louvre, Paris, inv. no. 7113, see Canby, 1996, cat.21) and Man in a Fur Lined Coat, circa 1600 (Metropolitan Museum of Art, inv. no. 55.121.39, see Canby, 1996, cat.32). Although in these examples the subjects are seated rather than standing, both figures bear a generous full face and a finely pencilled Safavid turban which is more prominent at the front. The execution of the soft curls around the face and turban and the delicately drawn nose done by a single brush stroke extending to two faint lines that highlight the upper lip are further distinguishable similarities. A closely comparable portrait of a Safavid youth signed by Reza sold in these Rooms, 8 October 2015, lot 50. Another example was sold more recently in these Rooms, 10 May 2018, lot 1007.
For a discussion on the 17th century calligrapher Muhammad Salih on the verso see Bayani vol.3, 1348 sh, p.778.