* Quatre peintures de maisons de café - Ghahveh... Lot n° 214

Iran, late 19th century Oil on strong paper, depicting themes from Persian literature and history. 31.5 x 36.5 cm approx. Provenance : This lot is sold as a temporary import. Four oils on paper, from Persian literature and history: Majnun in the wilderness, Bahram displaying his hunting skills to Azadeh, Yusuf being auctioned in the market, Nadir Shah honouring an old man, Iran, late 19th - early 20th century Coffee house painting (Ghahveh Khaneh) is a term used to describe a simple, popular style of oil painting that reached its apogee at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries under the Qadjar dynasty. It owes its name to the coffee (or tea) houses of the time, which decorated their walls with these paintings. Here: Majnun in the wild (Layla and Majnun by Nizami); Bahram showing off his hunting skills to Azadeh (Shahnama by Firdausi); Yusuf auctioned in the market (Yusuf va Zulaykha by Jami); Nadir Shah honoring an old man.