English: A Safavid nobleman standing in a landscape, signed by Shaykh 'Abbasi

Persia, dated AH 1071/AD 1660-61 pen and ink with some gouache on paper laid down on an 18th Century album page with gilt-decorated floral borders, signature and date at lower centre within panel, miniature 140 x 62 mm.; album page 330 x 216 mm.

Shaykh 'Abbasi was active during the reigns of Shah 'Abbas II and Shah Suleyman. His style is often seen as epitomising the mixing of Persian and Indian painting, though there is no evidence that he worked in India. For examples of his work, see A. Soudavar, Art of the Persian Courts, New York 1992, pp. 367-68, nos. 146, 147; and M. Zebrowski, Deccani Painting, London 1983, p. 197).