- 12
Sir Frederick William Burton
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Sir Frederick William Burton
- Shireen
- signed with initials l.r.
- watercolour and bodycolour
- 47 by 34cm., 18½ by 13½in.
Provenance
Abraham Howarth, Hilston House, Boden;
Thomas Agnew & Sons, London;
Phillips, London, 17 April 2000, lot 214;
Private collection
Thomas Agnew & Sons, London;
Phillips, London, 17 April 2000, lot 214;
Private collection
Exhibited
London, Old Watercolour Society, 1867;
Manchester, Royal Jubilee Exhibition, 1887, no.1430
Manchester, Royal Jubilee Exhibition, 1887, no.1430
Catalogue Note
Shireen was one of the many names of a 7th century Persian woman, the Christian wife of the exiled Khozrow Parviz (King of Kings). Long after her death she became a heroine of Persian literature embodying enduring love and fidelity. The most romantic telling of a fictionalised version of her story was by the greatest of the twelfth century Persian poets Nizami Ganjavi.
Burton painted several depictions of women from Persian literature, including The Wife of Hassan Aga (Christie's, 19 May 2000, lot 126) and Zelitza, both exhibited at the Old Watercolour Society in 1862.