AlbumsPersian19th century

Practice Calligraphy (Siah Mashkh)

c. 1850-1886

Artists

Firuz Mirza Nusrat al-Dawla IArtist

Description

This is a fine example of a practice sheet of islami. Difficult to decipher, the text contains phrases of Persian poetry expressing conventional sentiments about romantic suffering. The bold strokes of the calligraphy contrast with the delicate floral ornamentation that surrounds it. The work is unsigned, and the attribution to Firuz Mirza Nusrat al-Dawla I (Firouz Mirza Nosret-ed-Dowleh I) comes from the donor, Afsaneh Firouz-Ardalan. The donor, who served as Calderwood Intern at HUAM during the years 2001 - 2003, is a descendant of the artist.

Classification

Albums

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Culture

Persian

Period

Qajar period

Century

19th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

overall: 41.5 x 28.9 cm (16 5/16 x 11 3/8 in.) calligraphy: 21.2 x 13.2 cm (8 3/8 x 5 3/16 in.)

Provenance

Afsaneh Firouz, Brookline, MA, Purchased from Firouz Firouz,, 2005, gave to HUAM 2006, 2006. Purchased from her brother, Firouz Firouz, in 2005 Firouz Firouz, sold to Afsaneh Firouz, 2005. Sold in 2005 to Afsaneh Firouz

Related Artworks

Albums

Verses about Love, folio from an album, right-hand side of a bifolio

Unknown Artist, 18th-19th century

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

18th-19th centuryPersian

Albums

Text folio (text recto, text verso of folio 2), from a manuscript of Khwaja ‘Abd Allah Ansari’s Advise

Unknown Artist, dated 1877

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 45 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings: Three sheets with floral drawings (recto); Blank page (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Top: brown ink on tan Eastern paper; Middle: brown ink and watercolor on off-white wove paper; Bottom: brown ink on tan Eastern paper; selectively pricked and pounced with black chalk

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 20 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings: Holy Family with winged angel in oval frame (recto); Three drawings of figures in European dress (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Blue-gray ink on off-white laid paper, pricked and verso pounced with red chalk (recto); Top: blue-green counterproof on off-white wove paper (verso); Middle: black coutnerproof on off-white wove paper (verso); Bottom: red-brown ink and graphite on off-white wove paper (verso)

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Flower

Unknown Artist, 18th-19th century

18th-19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 22 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings: Sheet of portrait sketches and flowers (recto); Two sheets: dog and decorative frames; kneeling couple and mixed bouquet (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Brown counterproof on off-white wove paper; blind embossing on verso (recto); Top: red and brown inks over graphite on off-white wove paper (verso); Bottom: red ink over graphite, watercolor on off-white wove paper (verso)

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 32 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings: Wedding procession (left half) (recto); Blank page (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Red-brown ink over graphite on off-white modern laid paper; pricked and rubbed with red chalk

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Text folio (text recto, blank verso of folio 4), from a manuscript of Khwaja ‘Abd Allah Ansari’s Advise

Unknown Artist, dated 1877

Ink, colors, and gold on paper

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Verses About Humility from the Bustan by Sa'di, folio from an album

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 37 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings: Two sheets with sketches of people, animals, and bird and flower motifs (recto); Blank page (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Top: brown ink and black counterproof on off-white wove paper; Bottom: colored inks, graphite and black counterproof on off-white wove paper

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 52 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings: King on horseback embraced by angel (recto); Bust portrait of a young woman, probably Pourandokht, with tiara and headscarves (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Watercolor, black chalk and blue colored pencil on off-white wove paper; pricked (recto); Watercolor, silver and gold over graphite on off-white modern laid paper (verso)

19th centuryPersian

Albums

Folio 27 from an Album of Drawings and Paintings: Two sheets: male and female drum players (recto); Blank page (verso)

Unknown Artist, 19th century

Left: brown and light red inks over graphite; pricked and verso rubbed with red chalk; Right: brown ink and blue colored pencil on off-white wove paper; pricked and rubbed with red chalk (recto)

19th centuryPersian