19th Jun, 2025 12:00
Arts of India and the Islamic Lands
15
TWO ARCHAISTIC PORTRAITS OF PERSIAN SAFAVID LADIES IN A GARDEN SETTING
Qajar Iran, late 19th - early 20th century
TWO ARCHAISTIC PORTRAITS OF PERSIAN SAFAVID LADIES IN A GARDEN SETTING
PROPERTY FROM A CANADIAN COLLECTION
Qajar Iran, late 19th - early 20th century
Opaque pigments, ink and gold on paper, each portrait presented as an illustrated loose album folio featuring Safavid-revival, archaistic figures in the Reza 'Abbasi Isfahan School style, each with a high-rank lady seated beneath a flowering tree in a garden setting, one reading a book, the latter writing on a piece of paper, both immersed in poetic or literary contemplation and acting as visual metaphors of classical Persian literature topoi, one portrait accompanied by four hemistichs of a Persian love poem in black ink nasta'liq script reading "The radiance of your face is like the dawn, each glance of yours brings both pain and balm alike", each portrait set within richly illuminated borders with wild animals and elaborate floral cartouches with arabesques and meanders, the overall composition paying tribute to the elegance, lyricism and courtly refinement of the Safavid visual tradition.
28.3cm x 20.8cm and 26.5cm x 16.8cm respectively
Sold for £492
TWO ARCHAISTIC PORTRAITS OF PERSIAN SAFAVID LADIES IN A GARDEN SETTING
PROPERTY FROM A CANADIAN COLLECTION
Qajar Iran, late 19th - early 20th century
Opaque pigments, ink and gold on paper, each portrait presented as an illustrated loose album folio featuring Safavid-revival, archaistic figures in the Reza 'Abbasi Isfahan School style, each with a high-rank lady seated beneath a flowering tree in a garden setting, one reading a book, the latter writing on a piece of paper, both immersed in poetic or literary contemplation and acting as visual metaphors of classical Persian literature topoi, one portrait accompanied by four hemistichs of a Persian love poem in black ink nasta'liq script reading "The radiance of your face is like the dawn, each glance of yours brings both pain and balm alike", each portrait set within richly illuminated borders with wild animals and elaborate floral cartouches with arabesques and meanders, the overall composition paying tribute to the elegance, lyricism and courtly refinement of the Safavid visual tradition.
28.3cm x 20.8cm and 26.5cm x 16.8cm respectively
Auction: Arts of India and the Islamic Lands, 19th Jun, 2025
Our specialist auction Arts of India and the Islamic Lands is now online for you to browse, peruse and fall in love with your next antique.
Among the highlights, this sale vaunts a remarkable selection of Rajput Schools paintings and an illustrated loose folio from a Timurid Haft Paykar series, all part of a private Canadian collection; several gem-studded Indian necklaces, treasured heirlooms of a local family; a notable group of Islamic manuscripts, including a geomantic tome attributed to the Nubian alchemist Dhul-Nun al-Misri; and several lots of Persian Qajar lacquer belonging to the heir of a British diplomatic family in office under Sir Denis Wright in Tehran between 1971 - 1973.
Our selected lots preview starts next week, on Tuesday 3rd June, and the full view is going to take place from Friday 13th June until the sale day.
Mark your calendars and come to see us!
Viewing
Viewing:
13th June - 10:00 - 17:00
14th June - 11:00 - 16:00
15th June - 11:00 - 16:00
16th June - 10:00 - 17:00
17th June - 10:00 - 17:00
18th June - 10:00 - 17:00
