Portrait of Majlisi

Object Details

• Label

  This tinted drawing, datable to the 1670's, is identified on back as the portrait of Majlisi. If indeed a portrait, albeit idealized, it may represent Mulla Muhammad Baqir Majlisi (1628-1700). Considered the most influential and powerful Shi' scholar of the Safavid period, Majlisi vehemently opposed organized Sufism and wrote a monumental encyclopaedia on Shi'ism dealing with different aspects of Islam as well as the Islamic religious sciences. This carefully observed composition, even if stylized, is typical of Safavid interest in portraiture in the latter half of the 17th century.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Origin

  Iran

• Credit Line

  Bequest of Adrienne Minassian

• 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.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• 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, 1670s, 1560s, 1550s, 1660s

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Paintings