Groom and Rider

Unknown

1540–50 · Ink and watercolor on paper · Islamic Art

The subject of horseman and groom is common in Safavid art. The rider’s handsome appearance and elegant posture embody the ideal of youthful beauty, while the groom’s sprightly step and animated expression add liveliness to the drawing. Although the minimal ornamentation suggests that this was a preliminary sketch, the precision of the line and the attention to texture allow it to stand on its own as a finished work.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1540–50

Medium

Ink and watercolor on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of George D. Pratt, 1925