A couple converse by a stream

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    ca. 1500
  • Geography

    Iran or Central Asia
  • Material

    Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W: 28.4 x 17.5 cm (11 3/16 x 6 7/8 in)
  • Accession Number

    S1986.171
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S1986.171

Object Details

  • Description

    Detached album folio; A couple converse by a stream; one of a group of two folios.
    Border: The painting is set in gold, red and blue rulings mounted horizontally on paperboard with birds and floral motifs.
  • Provenance

    ?-1942
    Henri Vever (1851-1942), method of acquisition unknown [1]
    1942-1947
    Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [2]
    1947-1986
    Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [3]
    From 1986
    The National Museum of Asian Art, by purchased from Francois Mautin [4]
    Notes:
    [1] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This object was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.
    [2] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the object. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.
    [3] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.
    [4] The Museum purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file. This work is part of the Museum’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection.
    Research updated on June 27, 2024
  • Collection

    Arthur M. Sackler Collection
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Henri Vever (1854-1942)
    Francois Mautin (1907-2003)
  • Origin

    Iran or Central Asia
  • Credit Line

    Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler
  • Type

    Manuscript
  • Restrictions and Rights

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