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Persian Miniatures: The Cary Welch Rustam and White Div

London, UK. Bond Street, Arts of the Islamic World 25 Apr 02 Lot 46

Persian Minatures: The Cary Welch Rustam and White Div

Rustam slaying the white div outside a cave: illustrated leaf from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnama, Mughal, late 16th century

JBOC Note: While the Mughal prvenance is obvious I have to note the cave, the blue bacground rocks and the gold sky with the two tone cloud swirls. The artist was obviously drawing on a Shiraz inspiration. The boots are in the Turkmen/Turanian style so we see a fusion of styles here.

Sotheby's catalogue description:

Arts of the Islamic World » lot 46

Sale L02220 Lot 46
Rustam slaying the white div outside a cave: illustrated leaf from a manuscript of Firdausi's Shahnama, Mughal, late 16th century
London, Bond Street 8,000—12,000 GBP Session 1
25 Apr 02 10:30 AM
MEASUREMENTS
miniature 11.7 by 12.8cm.

DESCRIPTION
gouache with gold on paper, a couplet of text at two corners, mounted on card applied with gold-sprinkled and blue paper This lot contains 1 item(s).

Provenance:
From the collection of Stuart Cary Welch, sold in these rooms 12th December 1972, lot 36.

This finely executed work was most likely originally part of an important illustrated manuscript copy of Firdausi's Shahnama. However, no other illustrated manuscript leaves in this distinctive style are known. Stylistically this work closely compares to a miniature of a princely youth holding a falcon, which was sold in these rooms, 12th October 2000, lot 70, and is probably by the same artist.

Picture and Information from www.Sothebys.com

Auction catalogue notes on a comparable piece:

(Picture not available)

Arts of the Islamic World » lot 70
Sale L00502 Lot 70
A princely youth holding a falcon, North India, Mughal, c.1570
London, Bond Street 8,000—12,000 GBP Session 1
12 Oct 00 10:30 AM
DESCRIPTION
A princely youth holding a falcon, North India, Mughal, c.1570
gouache with gold on paper, margins ruled in colours and gold, borders of stout green paper decorated in gold with animals in sylvan settings, in mount
miniature 19.1 by 9.1 cm.
page 32.3 by 18.8 cm.
The distinctive style of this miniature can be closely compared with a miniature showing Rustam fighting the white div, which was sold in these rooms 12th December 1972, lot 36, while the composition itself is based closely on an earlier 16th century Persian portrait of a Safavid prince in the style of Sultan Muhammad, exhibited at the Burlington House exhibition of 1931 (see London 1931B, col.pl.32-3).

For Further Reading:

Guide to Rugs & Books

La Miniature En Orient

Notes on the War on Terrorism

Southwest Asia Time Line

Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.