Calligraphy Lion

Iran, 18^th century - watercolors and gold on paper, 13 cm. x 21.4 cm.

A calligraphy miniature of a lion, from a side view, walking triumphantly from left to right. Its front left leg is stretched out in the air, its tail is twisted up over its back, with the shape of flower at the end. Seven angels, with flaming golden trays in their hands, fly around it. Other than the tail the shape of the lion comprises Arabic letters which penetrate and also cover the surface of the lion’s body. The rhyming inscription, written in Thulth lettering, praises Ali: “Call Ali the revealer of miracles, and you will find he will help you in times of distress. All worry and pain vanish with your prophecy, o Mohammed, through you o Ali, o Ali.” The Shiites called Ali Ibn Abi Talb, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, Khaider - lion in Persian.  The iconography of the painting is reminiscent of the scene of Mohammed’s ascent to heaven. In that respect the painting is unprecedented, and its creator or the person who commissioned it was in all likelihood a devout Shiite. The lion is covered in glistening gold, and the sheen imbues a dramatic sense. The letters of the inscription are written in green, which represents the color of the Prophet’s family (Ahel el-Bait): Mohammed, Ali, Fatma, Hassan and Hussein, to whom the Shiites attached great holiness. The signature at the bottom is of Mohammed Bakker. The pencil sketch notes that the paper formerly belonged to a Russian collection. A similar calligraphy paper was part of the HR Krauss collection in New York.