Large leaf with a courtly scene typical of the vibrant style of painting during the Qajar Dynasty.
 
254 x 165 mm, leaf from an illustrated Persian manuscript on paper, possibly from a larger manuscript, blank on the verso.

This large and colorful leaf depicts a scene of courtly leisure. A ruler holds court in a palatial setting while courtiers pass around bottles and cups of wine, and musicians play on stringed instruments. They are seated on a terrace surrounded by a dense landscape, the foreground decorated with a bed of low flowers and the background full of flowering trees and cypresses. The scene blends the indoors with the outdoor garden setting, which is typical of Persian palaces and residential buildings. The rich palette consists of gold, blue, yellow, red, and green, harmoniously blended to present a colorful and decorative impression.

The style of the painting is typical of vibrant painting of the Qajar Dynasty (1781-1925), especially as practiced at the end in the 20th century and may have once been part of a larger manuscript. 

Provenance
(1) Private Collection, USA

We thank Senior Consultant Sandra Hindman and Peter Bovenmyer for their assistance in preparing this sale.