The Lovers
dated A.H. 1039/ 1630 CE
Medium
Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: H. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm) W. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm) Page: H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm) W. 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm) Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm) W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Francis M. Weld Gift, 1950
Accession Number
50.164
Tags
Art Historical Context
"The Lovers," painted by Riza-yi 'Abbasi in 1630, portrays an intimate scene of a man and woman in a moment of quiet connection. Created in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, this small-scale work measures just 6 7/8 by 4 3/8 inches and exemplifies the refined single-figure compositions popular in Persian art of the time. The delicate handling of the figures and the shimmering gold details draw the viewer into a private world rendered with remarkable sensitivity. Riza-yi 'Abbasi was a leading artist at the Safavid court in Isfahan, where he helped shape a distinctive style emphasizing...