Miniature painting was one of the most famous arts in Persia and still is in Iran. The most important function of miniature painting was illustration. It gave a visual image to the literary stories and poetry books such as Shahnameh (the book of kings) of Ferdowsi. The subject matter on this miniature of a prince/noble young man bringing a bowl of water for a tired old traveller to bathe his swollen feet could have been taken from one of these stories. Camel's bone is most probably the main material on which this exquisite painting was done.

This miniature is incredibly well painted and detailed with the expression on the two men’s faces skilfully executed and the buildings and vegetation finely painted (notice the butterflies over the grass in the foreground). This painting dates from at least the early 19^th century (Gajar dynasty), but the headgear of the two characters look Safavid, which would take the painting back to the 18^th century.

Size: 8 cm x 5.5 cm

Please only bid if you are entirely happy with the condition report, this includes the photographs.