A portrait of a princely youth in a landscape, signed by (Muhammad) Mu'min, Persia, Safavid, Isfahan, circa 1650

Ex-collection Hagop Kevorkian, New York, before 1962

The artist of this small, delicate portrait is known from two other signed works, both of similar size, format and both comprising single figure portraits of youths or maidens standing in similar rocky landscapes (see Sotheby’s, London, 7 April 1975, lot 48 and 29 April 1998, lot 67; 27 April 1982, lot 104). Both have signatures in the same hand as the present work. In addition, a small portrait of a maiden standing over a brazier is executed in very similar style is attributable to Muhammad Mu’min (Sotheby’s, London, 12 April 1976, lot 39 and 18 October 2001, lot 61). All three comparable works were also formerly in the Kevorkian Collection.

In the present portrait the youth is holding a Safina-form manuscript in his right hand, a format often used for anthologies of poetry from the fifteenth century onwards, and his turban and garments are of Indian style.