Standing Figure

Object Details

• Artist

  Ascribed to Muhammadi

• Label

  According to Sufism, gazing at the beautiful face of the beloved facilitates greater spiritual consciousness, and the seventeenth century abounds in images of handsome idealized youths. This painting is inscribed with a line of poetry by Mir Ali Sher Navai, one of the most influential cultural figures and poets of late-fifteenth-century Iran. It reads, "Your many arrows have destroyed Navai's heart." Although it is unclear whether text and image are directly related in this composition, the wistful figure with a wine cup can be interpreted as a visual metaphor for the Sufi concept of the beloved, so frequently described in mystically inspired Persian poetry.

  The painting is attributed to the celebrated painter Muhammadi, who began his career in late-sixteenth-century Herat in present-day Afghanistan. He then joined the royal atelier in Tabriz in northwestern Iran and in 1548 moved with the court to Qazvin, where this work was probably completed. Muhammadi's style is notable for its sinuous lines and slender, elegant male figures.

• Provenance

  E. Beghian. [1]

  To 1933

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962), New York. [2]

  From 1933

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Hagop Kevorkian, New York. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Near Eastern Ceramics (May 14, 1981 to May 10, 1985)

  Art of the Court of Shah Tahmasp (December 16, 1979 to August 14, 1980)

  Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Pottery (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)

  Near Eastern Art (June 5, 1964 to August 18, 1967)

  Persian Art (January 1, 1963 to September 3, 1963)

  Special Exhibition Afghanistan (September 3, 1963 to June 5, 1964)

  Glass Exhibition, in honor of VI International Congress on Glass (July 4, 1962 to December 3, 1962)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Paintings (May 1, 1945 to September 25, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian Paintings and Ceramics (May 5, 1933 to January 9, 1945)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Edward Beghian (1876-1962)

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

• Origin

  Probably Qazvin, Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1500s, 1610s, 1600s, 1590s, 1540s, 1650s, 1530s, 1640s, 1520s, 1630s, 1510s, 1620s, 1580s, 1730s, 1690s, 1570s, 1680s, 1560s, 1670s, 1550s, 1660s

• Name

  Kevorkian, Hagop, Beghian, Edward

• Place

  Qazvin

• Topic

  S?afavid dynasty, 1501-1736, Art, Arts of the Islamic World, Illumination, Flowers

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Language

  Nasta?li-q script

• Object Type

  Paintings