A Seated Young Man

• Accession Number:AKM437
• Place:Iran, Isfahan
• Dimensions:23 x 14.1 cm
• Date:1630–50
• Materials and Technique:ink, opaque watercolour, and gold on paper

• This single-page drawing of a seated young man presents features of two talented Iranian artists, Reza-e ‘Abbasi (ca. 1565–1635) and Sadeqi Beg (1533­–1610). Both artists depicted idealized young people, princes, princesses, and courtiers. The extraordinarily voluminous turban with attached feather and flower as decoration is the hallmark of Reza-e ‘Abbasi, as are the noticeably agitated strokes around the edges of the turban and shawl. In turn, the young man’s round face and double chin are the hallmarks of Sadeqi Beg, and the long, curling locks of hair on the sides of his face are evidence of the Isfahan style.

Further Reading

Originally from Isfahan, Reza-e ‘Abbasi joined the royal court workshop in Qazvin in 1587. His innovative ideas opened new horizons in the creation of artistic styles. Although Sadeqi Beg hailed from an older generation, he was influenced by his young colleague, who very soon became a major rival.[1]

This drawing in the Aga Khan Museum Collection also shares stylistic similarities with AKM435, AKM438, and AKM440. Parallels include the treatment of wrinkles in the headgear and clothing. In addition, the checkered undergarments here recall those depicted in AKM440. The artist’s unsubtle use of colour in this drawing and the black contours of the body make the work appear flat.

— Filiz Çakır Phillip

Notes
[1] See Anthony Welch, Artists for the Shah: Late Sixteenth-Century Painting at the Imperial Court of Iran. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1976, 100–49.

References
Phillip, Filiz Çakır. Enchanted lines: drawings from the Aga Khan Museum collection. 2014. ISBN: 9780991992874 
Welch, Anthony. Artists for the Shah: Late Sixteenth-Century Painting at the Imperial Court of Iran. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1976. ISBN: 978-0300019155