painting
- Museum number
- 1948,1211,0.11
- Description
-
Painting; portrait of Fani the painter sitting with one knee bent up for steadying the page, dipping the brush or pen in a small ceramic bottle and wearing pince-nez spectacles. Single line of text on top and bottom of image. Gouache on paper.
- Production date
- 1590-1610 (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 19.70 centimetres (Sheet)
-
Height: 16 centimetres (image)
-
Width: 12 centimetres (Sheet)
-
Width: 8.50 centimetres (image)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Portraits of artists were rare but not unheard of in Persian painting. Unfortunately, the name and work of the painter Fani are otherwise unknown. It is possible that the name is 'Mani', referring to the famous artist/founder of the Manichaean religion. Nonetheless, the portrait provides useful information concerning the working methods of Safavid painters. They chose to sit with one knee bent up for steadying the page, dipping the brush or pen in a small ceramic bottle and wearing pince-nez spectacles, presumably to help middle-aged eyes focus on tiny details.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1948
- Department
- Middle East
- Registration number
- 1948,1211,0.11