Partie d'un album érotique persan « Alfieh o Shalfieh »

Iran qâjar, attributed to Agha Najaf Isfahani Twelve paintings in gouache heightened with gold, mounted on cardboard album pages, with green margins on the front and ecru on the reverse, decorated with floral scrolls and medallions with animal motifs. Each illustration depicts a carnal scene, in an interior that opens onto the outside, and is framed by a nasta'liq text in Persian black ink, explaining the correct way for men to proceed in order to improve their relationships with women. Signed in the sky in red "Ya Shah-e Najaf" and some bearing a date or number... . (Chips, dirt, wormholes, cracks, repaints on faces) D. page : 34 x 20.5 cm ; D.miniature : 21.7 x 12.5 cm Inscription: All signed, probably apocryphal, "Ya Shah-e Najaf", some numbered or dated 126, 1241, 1240, 1242, 1245, 125, 1251. The text: "Alfieh o Shalfieh" is an illustrated manual on sexuality, written in the Seljuk period. The author, poet Hakim Abu-Bakr Arzaqi, wrote it for Alp-Arsalan's son, Tughan Shah. It was copied right up to the Qajar period. Despite the very direct and often repetitive illustrations, the emphasis of this erotic manuscript is on the importance of good manners, choosing good company, personal hygiene, as well as understanding anatomy and body timing. Interestingly, although the text is clearly aimed at a male audience, the narrative often describes things from a female point of view. The painter: Agha Najaf Isfahani (1795-1863) was one of the most famous master lacquerers of the Qajar period. He drew mainly portraits. His exceptional mastery of illumination enabled him to create magnificent portraits, hunting scenes and floral compositions.