A DRAWING OF AN ITINERANT CENTRAL ASIAN DERVISH
Iran, late 17th - 18th century

Ink and pencil on wove paper, the portrait drawn on the border of a loose folio from a dispersed manuscript or album (muraqqa'), depicting an itinerant dervish or faqir with his modest possessions including a staff, a fabric bundle, and a small cup, possibly a kashkul (begging bowl), hanging from his belt, the physiognomy of the subject with distinctive Central Asian and Mongolian features like rounded face, thin black moustaches, and almond-shaped eyes, mounted, glazed and framed, the folio 21cm x 12.8cm, 36cm x 25cm including the frame.