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An illustrated and illuminated leaf from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnameh: Ardashir’s army reporting to him on their defeat in the battle against Haftvad’s army, attributed to Mu'in Musavvir, Persia, Safavid, Isfahan, circa 1660
Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 GBP
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Description
- ink, gouache and gold on paper
Ink and gouache heightened with gold on paper, 13 lines to the page, written in nasta'liq script in black ink above and below the painting in 4 columns, separated by double intercolumnar rules in gold, margins ruled in colours and gold, miniature depicting horsemen and archers within a landscape, reverse with 27 lines of text and heading in red nasta'liq script, old collection label '142' in upper margin
Provenance
Ex-collection R. Ettinghausen
Condition
In generally good overall condition, a few stains and smudges, some creasing, colours bright, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
The present illustrated leaf originates from a now dispersed manuscript of the Shahnameh, various leaves of which are signed by Mu'in Musavvir. Three leaves from the same manuscript are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (acc.nos.1975.192.24-26), all of which are signed beneath the margin, and two of which bear the same inventory sticker (presumably Ettinghausen's) as the present lot. A further leaf is also in the Brooklyn Museum of Art (Acc.No.34.6012). Two leaves from the same manuscript were sold in these rooms 25 April 2012, lots 479 and 480.
The gifted Mu'in was one of the most prolific artists of the later Safavid period. Born in 1617, Mu'in flourished for seventy-two years, producing single page drawings and paintings in addition to several complete manuscripts. As we can see in the present example, the style is typically Persianate, a characteristic of Mu'in, at a time when many of his contemporaries became increasingly influenced by European prints.
The gifted Mu'in was one of the most prolific artists of the later Safavid period. Born in 1617, Mu'in flourished for seventy-two years, producing single page drawings and paintings in addition to several complete manuscripts. As we can see in the present example, the style is typically Persianate, a characteristic of Mu'in, at a time when many of his contemporaries became increasingly influenced by European prints.