Detached album folio; Horse and groom; reverse: text

Object Details

• Artist

  Attributed to Haydar Ali

• Description

  Detached album folio; Horse and groom; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script; reverse: illuminated panel of calligraphy.

  The painting is set in gold and black rulings mounted on a tan-colored paper. The text is mounted on a cream-colored paper.

• Inscriptions

  The work of Ustad (Master) Haydar Ali.

• Label

  According to the illuminated cartouche, Horse and Groom was painted by Haydar Ali, one of the leading early-sixteenth-century painters and nephew of the legendary Persian painter, Bihzad. Haydar Ali may have begun his artistic training with his uncle in Herat before moving west to Tabriz. Characterized by fine draftsmanship, a vibrant palette, and intricate surface designs, this composition embodies the elegance and refinement of early-sixteenth-century Persian paintings.

• Provenance

  ?-to at least 1929

  Armenag Bey Sakisian, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  About 1929-1937

  Ownership information unknown

  ?-to at least 1937

  H. Kevorkian, New York, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1937

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Arménag Bey Sakisian, “La Miniature Persane du XIIe au XVIIe siècle: ouvrage accompagné de la reproduction de 193 miniatures dont deux en couleurs” [book] (Paris et Bruxelles: Les Editions G. Van Ouest, 1929), fig. 156 and p. 117. The miniature is cited as being in the collection of the author. Armenag Bey Sakisian was a collector and art historian, and an archaeologist who lived in Paris but worked extensively in Syria and the surrounding region.

  [2] Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962) was a dealer and collector of Islamic Art with eponymous galleries in New York and Paris. See note 3 for purchase invoice details.

  [3] The Freer Gallery of Art paid H. Kevorkian in installments, the first on April 23, 1937, and the last on June 2, 1937, marked approved on June 1, 1937. See object file for copy of invoice.

  Research updated December 8, 2022

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

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

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

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

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 6 and 7 (February 25, 1956 to April 10, 1962)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, Pottery, Metalwork, and Glass (April 12, 1955 to November 21, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Arts, 1947 (October 6, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Armenag Sakisian (1875-1949)

  Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)

• Origin

  Tabriz, 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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  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

  Sakisian, Armenag, Kevorkian, Hagop

• Place

  Tabriz

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Paintings