Turkey, probably Istanbul, 18th century, Two erotic scenes, ascribed to Abdullah Bukhari, both signed and one dated 1156 AH/1743 AD

gouache on paper, both depicting two men in an erotic embrace, one signed at lower left, the other signed and dated at upper left, each set within ebru borders ruled in gold

Joseph Soustiel, Paris, 1974

Colours bright, the background paper with some discoloration, notable stain (possibly water) to one miniature with resulting minor crease-lines and losses to robes and skin, the other with minor losses to flesh (white paint), both set within ebru borders which have subsequently been cut and mounted on green card, as viewed.
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Only five, single-page erotic paintings with no associated story-lines by the famous eighteenth-century artist Abdullah Bukhari, are known. Of these, only one represents a homo-erotic scene (sold at Christie's, London, 18 and 20 October 1994, lot 96). For further information on Abdullah Bukhari, who flourished in the first half of the eighteenth century, see T. Artan and I.C. Schick, 'Ottomanizing pornotopia: Changing visual codes in eighteenth-century Ottoman erotic miniatures', in F. Leoni and M. Natif (Eds.), Eros and Sexuality in Islamic Art, Surrey, 2013, pp.157-207, particularly pp.174-7.

A miniature by the same artist was sold in these rooms, 24 April 2012, lot 224.

Only one illustrated. To view the other work in this lot, please go to sothebys.com