Folio from a Divan (collected poems) by Hafiz; recto: Bearded man and a woman in a landscape; verso: text, five couplets of poem

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At A Glance

  • Period

    1658-1659
  • Geography

    Iran
  • Material

    Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W: 26.8 x 18 cm (10 9/16 x 7 1/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    S1986.318
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S1986.318

Object Details

  • Description

    Detached folio from a dispersed copy of a Divan (collected poems) by Hafiz; text: Persian in black nasta'liq script; recto: A bearded man and a woman in a landscape; verso: text, five couplets.
    Border: The painting is set in gold, black, and blue rulings on a gold-sprinkled paper.
  • Inscriptions

    (on backside) written in pencil "1258 pthss"
    (on backside) written in pencil "Dec.32, #59."
    (on backside) written in ink "Par Muhammad Ali (1658)
    (on backside) written in ink "Par Muhammad Ali (1658)
  • Provenance

    ?-1932
    Indjoudjian Frères, method of acquisition unknown [1]
    1932
    Sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot "Objets d'art proche-orient des grandes époques ... provenant de la collection de Indjoudjian" December 19, 1932, lot 59[2]
    From at least 1938-1942
    Henri Vever (1854-1942), method of acquisition unknown [3]
    1942-1947
    Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [4]
    1947-1986
    Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [5]
    From 1986
    Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [6]
    Notes:
    [1] See note 2. Indjoudjian Frères was an antiquities dealership based in Paris and New York, owned by the Armenian-born brothers Agop (1871-1951) and Meguerditch (1884-1927).
    [2] See Hôtel Drouot "Objets d'art Proche-Orient des grandes époques ... provenant de la collection de Indjoudjian" [auction catalogue] (Paris: December 19, 1932), lot 59. The painting is described as « PRINCESSE ASSISE à gauche, versant du vin et conversant avec un philosophe. » See also marks on reverse of folio.
    [3] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) 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.
    [4] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the work. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.
    [5] 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 work is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 4.
    [6] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.
    Research completed May 4, 2022.
  • Collection

    Arthur M. Sackler Collection
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Francois Mautin (1907-2003)
    Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)
    Henri Vever (1854-1942)
    Indjoudjian Freres
    Agop Indjoudjian (1871-1951)
  • Origin

    Iran
  • 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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