Horseman slaying a lion

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    15th century
  • Geography

    Iran
  • Material

    Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W (painting): 14 × 21.2 cm (5 1/2 × 8 3/8 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1937.26
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1937.26

Object Details

  • Provenance

    From at least 1929-at least 1931
    Arménag Bey Sakisian (1875-1949), method of acquisition unknown [1]
    About 1931-1937
    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 Laurence Binyon, J.V.S. Wilkinson and Basil Gray, “Persian Miniature Painting: Including a Critical Descriptive catalogue of the Miniatures Exhibited at Burlington House, January-March, 1931” [book] (London: Oxford University Press, 1933), p. 94, no. 75, “Lent by Armenag Bey Sakisian, Paris”.
    See also 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), pl. LVII, fig. 98, and p. 81. The miniature is cited as being in the collection of the author. Arménag Bey Sakisian was a collector, art historian, and 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 details regarding purchase invoice.
    [3] The Freer Gallery of Art paid H. Kevorkian in installments, the first on April 23, 1937, and the last on June 2, 1937, and approved on June 1, 1937. See object file for copy of invoice.
    Research updated December 13, 2022
  • Collection

    Freer Gallery of Art Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Metalwork (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)
    Persian Art (January 1, 1963 to September 3, 1963)
    Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 6 and 7 (February 25, 1956 to April 10, 1962)
    Special Exhibition (February 9, 1954 to April 20, 1954)
    Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Paintings (May 1, 1945 to September 25, 1947)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Armenag Sakisian (1875-1949)
    Hagop Kevorkian (1872-1962)
  • Origin

    Iran
  • Credit Line

    Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
  • Type

    Painting
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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