Description:

 AN ILLUMINATED PAINTING OF A SEATED SOLDIER, 18TH CENTURY, ZAND DYNASTY
Persia, 18th century

Description:
Ink, opaque watercolour, and gold on paper; a Zand-period miniature of a seated Persian soldier shown in profile, holding a bow across his lap with a quiver of arrows at his side. His stern expression and upright posture convey a sense of alertness and readiness. The figure is depicted with meticulous detailing, including the patterned fabric of his attire and the finely ornamented shield and scabbard in the foreground. The composition is framed by illuminated verses in nasta‘liq script on a cobalt blue ground, surrounded by pink and gold rulings within wide lilac-pink borders.

Dimensions:
32.5 x 23cm

Comparable examples:

  • Sotheby’s, London, Arts of the Islamic World, 1 May 2019, Lot 36, Persian military portrait with weapons, Zand period, £5,625 

  • Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 27 October 2022, Lot 106, Zand-era folio of a Persian guard, £6,930 

  • Bonhams, London, Islamic and Indian Art, 25 October 2022, Lot 94, miniature of a Persian warrior with arms, £5,355 

Note:
Military-themed miniatures from the Zand dynasty reflect the continued admiration for martial virtue and dynastic pride. The stylised yet restrained approach to colour and ornament seen here is typical of the late 18th century, where portraiture balanced realism with the poetic flair of Persian manuscript art. The inclusion of calligraphy further elevates the work, tying it to courtly literary culture.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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