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The Lovers

Painting by Riza-yi 'Abbasi Iranian
dated 1039 AH/1630 CE
Not on view
The artist Riza‑yi 'Abbasi revolutionized Persian painting and drawing with his inventive use of calligraphic line and unusual palette. He painted The Lovers toward the end of a long, successful career at the Safavid court. The subject of a couple entwined reflects a newly relaxed attitude to sensuality introduced in the reign of Shah Safi (r. 1629–42). Here the figures are inextricably bound together, merged volumes confined within one outline.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Lovers
  • Artist: Painting by Riza-yi 'Abbasi (Iranian, ca. 1565–d. 1635)
  • Date: dated 1039 AH/1630 CE
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran, Isfahan
  • 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
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Francis M. Weld Gift, 1950
  • Object Number: 50.164
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
Man in a Long-sleeved Coat, Riza-yi 'Abbasi Iranian, Ink on paper
Man in a Long-sleeved Coat
Riza-yi 'Abbasi
ca. 1598
"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Habiballah of Sava Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Painting by Habiballah of Sava
Author Farid al-Din `Attar
ca. 1600
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Govardhan, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painting by Govardhan
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
verso: ca. 1630; recto: ca. 1530–50
Study of a Bird, Riza-yi 'Abbasi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper
Study of a Bird
Painting by Riza-yi 'Abbasi
dated 1043 AH/1634 CE
Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds), Farid al-Din `Attar Iranian, Binding: doublure
Mantiq al-Tayr (Language of the Birds)
Author Farid al-Din `Attar
Calligrapher Sultan 'Ali al-Mashhadi
ca. 1600

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