A portrait of a youth holding a crutch across his shoulders, Isfahan, circa 1620-50

He stands facing left wearing an embroidered tunic and matching pantaloons, a dagger tucked in a striped sash about his waist, a yellow shawl over his right shoulder, a fur-trimmed cap upon his head, gold vegetation and clouds in background, tinted drawing on paper, laid down on card with gold and red borders

The Hagop Kevorkian Collection
F.R. Meugens

some staining and rubbing, otherwise good condition, colours bright, as viewed.
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This drawing relates closely to other drawings of the Isfahan school and it is possible to attribute this work to Afzal al-Husaini based on the distinctive way he draws the eyes of his figure, with a rather wide almond shape, which is more rounded than that of other artists of the period and high eyebrows which meet firmly in the middle.

According to Sheila Canby, Afzal was strongly influenced by the work of Riza and was probably one of his pupils. She counts amongst his works a group of signed portraits and sixty-seven signed illustrations in a Shahnama produced between 1642 and 1650 for Shah Abbas II. She concludes that his career began in the 1620s and continued until 1650 (Canby 1998, no. 50, p.78).

For other works signed or attributed to Afzal see (Stchoukine 1964, no. LXXII; Robinson 1965, no. 68 and Soudavar 1992, nos. 111 a,c,d, 118, 119 and fig. 42).