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A Portrait of Majnun and Layla, by Muhammad Zaman III, Persia, Zand, circa 1770
Description
Condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
The painting is identified as: 'Assembly of Layla and Majnun'
Signed as: 'Muhammad Zaman'
Primarily a lacquer painter, 'the third' Muhammad Zaman (who also used the signatures Aqa Zaman and Ya Sahib al-Zaman) was a talented portraitist as well as a painter of poetic romances, birds and flowers. He appears to have been present at the court of Lutf 'Ali Khan Zand (r.1789-94) although due to the lack of exact dates for his lifetime it is unclear which early Qajar leader he served.
A further oil painting by Muhammad Zaman, of Bahram Gur on horseback, was sold in these rooms 23 April 1997, lot 161, whilst another example, of Yusuf and Zuleykha, sold in these rooms 16 October 1996, lot 75. A third painting by the artist depicts Khosrow and Shirin and was sold at Drouot, Paris, 12 December 1975. A final portrait of a 'Nobleman Wearing a Zand Turban' by Zaman III is illustrated in Diba & Ekhtiar 1998, p.191, pl.44. A close inspection of all these paintings reveals strong similarities, including the treatment of the facial features, details of costume and the textile patterns.