TWO QAJAR STUDIES OF FLOWERS IN THE STYLE OF MURAQQA’ ALBUM PAGES
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Qajar Iran, 19th century, one dated 1234 AH (1818)

Opaque pigments, ink and pencil on paper, the pair of vertical compositions depicting studies of roses, one of them featuring the typical Persian topoi of the loving nightingale and the beloved rose (Gol-o-Bolbol), signed Mashq-e Mahmud and dated 1234 AH (1818) on the lower right corner, set within dark blue borders, mounted, glazed and framed, 36cm x 29cm; and the latter with an invocation to ‘Ali and an inscription in black ink naskh script at the top, set within decoupaged decorative borders with fretwork bands and starry design, mounted, glazed and framed, 34cm x 27.4cm.