A prisoner being chastised before a nobleman, a mullah or sufi attempting to prevent the ordeal, Qajar Persia, circa 1880

A prisoner being chastised before a nobleman, a mullah or sufi attempting to prevent the ordeal
Qajar Persia, circa 1880
Gouache and gold on paper, laid down on an album page with illuminated and ruled inner margins, two cartouches containing inscriptions in nasta'liq script in gold, outer border richly decorated in colours and gold in Safavid style
painting 120 x 197 mm.; album page 240 x 335 mm.

The text in the cartouches, which seems to be unrelated to the painting and probably derives from another manuscript, consists of two couplets from the Mawa'iz (Counsels) of Sa'di.