Moʿin Moṣavver | Individual Drawings and Paintings

Drawing 1678.3

A Circle of Boys

Location: Present whereabouts unknown.
Drawing: 18.5 x 13 cm.
Signature: Signed and dated 1089/1678.

Inscription
Bottom right, top line consists of two verses of poetry.
Lines 2 and 3: betāriḵ ...[unintelligible] ... šahr-e rajab al-morājab sana 1089 raqam-e kamina moʿin-e moṣavver. Translation: “Completed [the day in numerals not legible] of the revered month of Rajab in the year 1089/19 August - 18 September 1678".
Lines 4 and 5: unintelligible

Description:
The drawing depicts a birdseye view of a circle of young naked boys clasping each other from behind in a ring. They are alternately colored pink and blue. The pink ones all have a circlet of beads on their heads. The background is decorated with flowers and foliage rendered in gold on the plain paper ground.

Bibliography:
Sotheby’s (London) sale catalog, 16 October 1996, Lot 65.

Commentary:
The subject matter portrayed is in the least unusual, perhaps even unique. One has difficulty even suggesting what is really being portrayed. However, it does, suggest a mystic interpretaion, and perhaps the single line of poetry at the head of the inscription might provide a key to what is portrayed -- if it were legible enough to be read. The signed and dated inscription, the fine calligraphic brushwork all support an attribution to Moʿin Moṣavver.

Photo after Sothebys,

Robert Eng
Last Updated: February 8, 2020 | Originally published: February 8, 2020