art and photography

By Peter Singer | (Project Syndicate) | – – A Saudi prince has been revealed to be the buyer of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi,” for which he spent $450.3 million. Had he given the money to the poor, as the subject of the painting instructed another rich man, he could have restored eyesight to […]

art and photography

Saudi Crown Prince splashed $450 mn on Jesus painting

contributors

Middle East Monitor | – – Mystery over the secret buyer of a record $450.3 million painting was solved after it was discovered that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had used a proxy to get hold of one of the prized assets in the arts world. The power hungry de-facto ruler of the Kingdom […]

art and photography

Painting of the Day: “The Lovers” (Iran, 1630)

Juan Cole

Safavid Miniature by Riza-yi Abbasi of Isfahan

art and photography

Painting of the Day: Girl w/ Wine Cup, Isfahan, Iran, 1650

contributors

British Museum | Persian Watercolor in style of Muhammad Qasim | – – “Girl with a wine cup Style of Muhammad Qasim Safavid Iran, Isfahan, 1640-50 Ink and opaque watercolour on paper By 1650 drawings of young men or women holding wine cups in the countryside had become standard rather than hackneyed fare in Persian […]

art and photography

Picture of the Day: Iranian Woman Tambourine Player, 1848

contributors

British Museum | Persian Costumes | – – “Portrait of a young woman; single-page painting mounted on album folio. A young woman kneels on a yellow and white carpet while holding a large tambourine to the right with both hands. She wears an orange blouse, a blue jacket fastened at the waist, and a bright […]

art and photography

Image of the Day: European Buddhists (?) & Zoroastrians, c. 1650

contributors

British Museum | (Safavid Era Painting) | – – School/style: Persian School/Style term details Culture/period: Safavid dynasty term details Date: 1650-1700 (circa) Production place: Made in: Iran “Four men worshipping at a fire altar and idol shrine; detached folio from an illustrated manuscript. At left, two Zoroastrian men hold their hands out in prayer toward […]

art and photography

Photo of the Day: Gaza (the Old Town), 1862

contributors

The New York Public Library | Francis Frith | – – The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “Gaza (the Old Town)” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed February 26, 2017. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47d9-5c4b-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99 Title: Gaza (the Old Town) Names: Frith, Francis (Photographer) Collection: […]

art and photography

Garden Party, 1640: Iranian Lady entertains European Gentleman

contributors

Metropolitian Museum of Art | Isfahan Tile | – – “At the center of this scene, a lady leans on a bolster pillow and languidly holds out a filled cup. Making somewhat immodest eye contact with the viewer, she displays burn marks, associated with mystics and lovers, on her lower arms. A male figure in […]

art and photography

Image of the Day: Gemini Constellation, As Seen in the Heavens, Iran,1630

contributors

New York Public Library | Spencer Collection, The New York Public Library. “Gemini, as seen in the heavens. Mirror image of f. 91?” Tarjumah-i suwar al-kawâkib (Translation of “Images of the Planets”). Iran, c. 1630, possibly Mashhad. New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8d2bcb1e-42d4-7f14-e040-e00a180641da