Moʿin Moṣavver | Individual Drawings and Paintings
Painting 1673.1
European Youth, Standing, Holding a Jar
Location: Current Whereabouts Unknown.
Painting: (H x W) 19.3 x 9.2 cm.
Signature: Signed and dated 1084/1673.
Inscription
In the lower right, reads: betāriḵ-e šahr-e jomādi al-avval sana 1084 bejehat-e moraqqā ba etmām rasid. mašqa moʿin-e moṣavver. Translation: “Completed for an album in the month of Jomādi I of the year 1084/August-September 1673. Drawn by Moʿin Moṣavver”. The inscription is in the handwriting of the artist.
Description:
A European youth is depicted, standing, facing the right, holding a large jar of Chinese style in his arms. His clothing is of a style popular in Europe in the 1620's and 30's. The jar is white with a representation of a long-necked bird, perhaps a heron, drawn in blue. The background consists of stylized clouds, foliage, and stones drawn in gold on a cream colored ground.
Bibliography:
Christie’s sale catalog, 27 April 1981, Lot 121 (color ill.).
Welch, Islamic Book_1982, no.40 (ill.).
Commentary:
This excellent painting, wth its flowing lines with a sureness of touch, and the glaring use of color, can be counted among the firm attributions to Moʿin Moṣavver. The signed and dated inscription in the master’s handwriting leaves little doubt to its authenticity, and the subject matter is well in keeping with the artist’s other work. Compare, for example, the Moʿin representation of a European youth in the a finispiece for a Shahnameh dated 1648-49 (MSS B). The subject also appears in another Moʿin work a few months later (December 1673), in which the artist portrays his former master, Reżā ʿAbbāsi, in the midst of painting a miniature of a European youth holding a Chinese style jar (1673.2). And as Welch astutely points out, since Reżā is portrayed painting a picture of this same subject, it strongly suggests that there was once a Reżā original for the European Youth with A Jar that Moʿin used as a model for this painting.
Photo after Christies sale catalog.
Robert Eng
Last Updated: April 15, 2019 | Originally published: April 15, 2019
Painting 1673.1
European Youth, Standing, Holding a Jar
Location: Current Whereabouts Unknown.
Painting: (H x W) 19.3 x 9.2 cm.
Signature: Signed and dated 1084/1673.
Inscription
In the lower right, reads: betāriḵ-e šahr-e jomādi al-avval sana 1084 bejehat-e moraqqā ba etmām rasid. mašqa moʿin-e moṣavver. Translation: “Completed for an album in the month of Jomādi I of the year 1084/August-September 1673. Drawn by Moʿin Moṣavver”. The inscription is in the handwriting of the artist.
Description:
A European youth is depicted, standing, facing the right, holding a large jar of Chinese style in his arms. His clothing is of a style popular in Europe in the 1620's and 30's. The jar is white with a representation of a long-necked bird, perhaps a heron, drawn in blue. The background consists of stylized clouds, foliage, and stones drawn in gold on a cream colored ground.
Bibliography:
Christie’s sale catalog, 27 April 1981, Lot 121 (color ill.).
Welch, Islamic Book_1982, no.40 (ill.).
Commentary:
This excellent painting, wth its flowing lines with a sureness of touch, and the glaring use of color, can be counted among the firm attributions to Moʿin Moṣavver. The signed and dated inscription in the master’s handwriting leaves little doubt to its authenticity, and the subject matter is well in keeping with the artist’s other work. Compare, for example, the Moʿin representation of a European youth in the a finispiece for a Shahnameh dated 1648-49 (MSS B). The subject also appears in another Moʿin work a few months later (December 1673), in which the artist portrays his former master, Reżā ʿAbbāsi, in the midst of painting a miniature of a European youth holding a Chinese style jar (1673.2). And as Welch astutely points out, since Reżā is portrayed painting a picture of this same subject, it strongly suggests that there was once a Reżā original for the European Youth with A Jar that Moʿin used as a model for this painting.
Photo after Christies sale catalog.
Robert Eng
Last Updated: April 15, 2019 | Originally published: April 15, 2019
