Youth in gold trousers, by Reẓā `Abbāsī (d. 1635)

Reza `Abbasi

Youth in gold trousers, by Rezā `Abbāsī (d. 1635). Dressed to the height of Safavid fashion, this young man is clasping a wine flask in both hands. A small cup tucks into the neckline of his shirt, and a dagger sits in the knot of his striped belt sash. His bird-patterned gold trousers, likely to be metal-brocaded silk, suggest a privileged life. Indeed the silk economy did bring prosperity to Safavid Isfahan, and many modern consumer habits as well. Reza has painted the man’s curling hair and the fur brim of his hat with remarkable lightness of touch. His signature on the lower left reads “work of the humble Reza `Abbasi”. Shah `Abbas granted Reza the honour of using the title “`Abbasi”, to show his status in the royal court. Folio, ink, colours and gold on gold-dusted paper, mounted on card, painting of a young man wearing a fur-brimmed felt hat, purple jacket with gold clouds, blue striped sash (with tucked dagger) and gold trousers with bird design, and clasping a bottle with a wine-cup tucked into the neckline of his yellow shirt, signed "work of the humble Rezā `Abbāsī " (raqam-e kamīneh Rezā `Abbāsī, lower left), within ruled borders mounted on dark blue painted card mount, blank paper verso with Latin note in ink ("pinxit Razayee Abassee"), painting by Rezā `Abbāsī (d. 1635), Isfahan, Iran, c. 1620-1630.