Description:

Lot 73. A MONUMENTAL BATTLE OF KARBALA SCENE PAINTING
Persia, 19th Century

Painted in rich polychrome on a large horizontal canvas, the composition depicts the climactic events of the Battle of Karbala. At the centre, mounted warriors in elaborately detailed armour and helmets charge forward on dynamically rendered horses, their expressions heightened by strong outlines and saturated earth-toned pigments. Surrounding them, numerous vignettes unfold against a turquoise and ochre ground: processions of figures, attendants carrying vessels, veiled women in mourning, and groups of onlookers. The narrative density is accentuated by tightly arranged registers filled with figures showing stylised faces, patterned garments, and repeated ornamental motifs.

 Areas of abrasion, craquelure, and minor losses are visible throughout, consistent with age and handling.

The work is signed and dated in the composition by Hussain Hamdani, a known painter of large-scale religious and narrative scenes in 19th-century Iran. Paintings of this type were traditionally produced for public display during Muharram commemorations, serving both as visual aids for recounting the martyrdom of Imam Husayn and as devotional objects reinforcing communal memory.

Measurements: Length 355 cm; Width 155 cm
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December 16, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
London, United Kingdom

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