Lot 246: An Islamic Watercolour Painting of a Recumbent Beast...
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An Islamic Watercolour Painting of a Recumbent Beast with Zoomorphic Calligraphy.
A finely executed Islamic watercolour painting depicting a recumbent feline-like beast resting upon a green ground, its body entwined with a sinuous serpent. Above the creature rises a bold and highly stylised calligraphic composition rendered in black and muted tones, incorporating anthropomorphic and zoomorphic elements. The calligraphy is ingeniously formed with facial motifs and ornamental extensions, crowned by a domed, emblematic form at the apex.
Flanking the central inscription are additional calligraphic devices and symbolic motifs, while delicate floral sprays adorn the upper corners. The composition combines figurative imagery with devotional script in a manner characteristic of popular Islamic artistic traditions, where text and image merge into a symbolic and allegorical whole.
Approximately
Provenance: Private collection from a distinguished W London collector.
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