A lady playing a stringed instrument, Qajar Iran, early 19th century

A LADY PLAYING A STRINGED INSTRUMENT
QAJAR IRAN, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Oil on canvas, some restoration
50¼ x 40 1/8in. (127.5 x 102cm.)

With their small pursed lips, long noses and elaborate costumes the figures in this painting bear some resemblance to the work of Muhammad Hassan, an accomplished portraitist active during the reign of Fath ‘Ali Shah Qajar (1798-1834). A painting by Muhammad Hassan sold at Sotheby’s, London, 27 April 1994, lot 107. Two other works by the artist, depicting princes, are in the Amery Collection, now in the Negaristan Museum, Tehran (S.J. Falk, Qajar Paintings, London, 1972, nos.26 and 27).