Muhammad Baqir
Dancing Girl

Public Domain

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Artist Muhammad Baqir (Persian, active 1740s–1800s)Persian, active 1740s–1800s

CulturePersian

Titles

Dancing Girl

DateAH 1192 / AD 1778-79

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsCanvas: 59 1/2 x 32 in. (151.1 x 81.3 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Franci Neely, and Sabiha and Omar Rehmatulla at the 2015 Art of the Islamic Worlds Gala

Object number2015.65

Current Location

The Caroline Wiess Law Building

114 Islamic Art Gallery

On view

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Department

Art of the Islamic Worlds

Object Type

PAINTING

DescriptionThis painting is a masterpiece of the Zand period (1750–94). Muhammad Baqir is known as one of the superlative artists of his time. Extraordinarily versatile, he worked in oil, watercolor, lacquer, enamel, and on murals. Along with his talented contemporaries, he had a significant impact on future generations of Persian artists during the Qajar period (1779–1924). The monumental size of the painting and recession seen in the background show the influence of European art, while the rosebud lips, sleepy eyes, and long, dark tresses epitomize the Persian ideal of beauty and Zand portraiture’s interest in the emotive.
ProvenancePossibly William Randolph Hearst collection; [Amphora Arts and Antiquities, Beverly Hills, CA]; [Jacob Shavleyan, London, 2004]; [Sotheby's, London, "Arts of the Islamic World", October 7, 2009, lot 66]; [Yacob's Gallery, London]; purchased by MFAH, 2015.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto, upper section, signed and dated in cream: ya Baqir al-'Ulum 1192 AH (CE 1778)

Recto, upper section, signed and dated in cream: ya Baqir al-'Ulum 1192 AH (AD 1778)

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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