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Catalog Data

Medium:
Polychrome colors on plaster
Dimensions:
H x W (max.): 42 x 19 cm (16 9/16 x 7 1/2 in)
Type:
Painting
Origin:
Iran
Date:
early 20th century
Description:
The fragment was broken during transit and is presently in two pieces. The surface is badly damaged.
The fragment shows a princess seated on the ground with one knee bent up. On the left is a richly foliated tree with rounded green leaves and birds perched on its branches. A butterfly is placed on the upper right and the field around the figure is filled with clusters of grass and flowers growing from oval rocks.
The princess has a crown with a blue cap and a blue scarf falls from the headdress to her shoulders. The diadem of the crown is crenulated and terminates with a long curving stem at the back; it is painted in red and green with touches of gilding. A pearl band appears on the forehead and hangs on the temples; it was probably meant to continue under the chin.
The figure wears a green coat decorated iwth a blue embroidered collar. The coat is lined with blue and large gold and red flowers are painted on the bodice and skirt.
The undergarment or dress is damaged, but shows remnants of a pinkish-orange pigment, not unlike the face coloring and the handkerchief held in the left hand. The dress and handkerchief may have been unfinished with only the ground color applied
Provenance:
From 1930s to 1970
Dr. Myron Bement Smith (1897-1970), New York acquired in Iran. [1]
1970 – 71
Mrs. Myron Bement Smith, Washington DC [2]
From 1971
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Mrs. Myron Bement Smith, Washington DC [3]
Notes:
[1] Curatorial Remark 2 in the object record.
[2] See Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.
[3] See note 2. The object was transferred from the Freer Study Collection to the Permanent Collection in December 3, 1973.
Collection:
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Previous custodian or owner:
Dr. Myron Bement Smith (1897-1970)
Mrs. Myron Bement Smith
Topic:
tree  Search this
flower  Search this
butterfly  Search this
forgery  Search this
Iran  Search this
princess  Search this
Arts of the Islamic World  Search this
Myron Bement Smith collection  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of Mrs. Myron Bement Smith
Accession Number:
F1973.17
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
Data Source:
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye34f10904e-899d-4ff6-b003-7fef8cf78b05
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:fsg_F1973.17