Mary and Jesus

Description This Safavid painting from Walters W.668 depicts Mary (Maryam) and Jesus ('Isa), as indicated by the inscription. It dates to the late11th century AH/AD 17th and is attributable to the Safavid painter Shaykh "Abbasi, whose works range between 1060 AH/AD 1650 to 1095 AH/AD 1683-1684 and who executed several portraits similar to this one. Shaykh "Abbasi often signed his name in a rectangular panel, as seen in the left foreground here. The signature was erased at some point. The painting is executed in opaque watercolor and gold. The blue, pink, and purple borders with illuminated floral motifs probably date to the early 13th century AH/AD 19th.

Conservation

Date	Description	Narrative
9/08/2015	Examination	examined for exhibition

Exhibitions

• Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, and Poets at the Great Islamic Courts. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. 2015-2016.

Provenance 'Abduh Khudadad, 1189 AH/AD 1775 [mode of acquisition unknown] [seal impression: 'Abduh Khudadad, 1189 AH/AD 1775 on fol. 58a]; Farhad, 1234 AH/AD 1800 [mode of acquisition unknown] [seal impression: Farhad, 1234 AH/AD 1800 on a number of folios]; Muhammad al-Hasani [date and mode of acquisition unknown] [seal impression: Muhammad al-Hasani on fol. 28a]; Fath 'Ali [date and mode of acquisition unknown] [seal impression: Fath 'Ali on fol. 82b]; Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters