A fine drawing of five dervishes, on card [Safavid Persia (probably Isfahan), c. 1630]

A fine drawing of five dervishes, in the style of Reza Abbasi, illuminated 'marriage leaf' on card [Safavid Persia (probably Isfahan), c. 1630] single leaf, ink drawing on paper depicting 5 dervishes, mounted to card and framed by montage of marbled paper sections, 8 panels of Persian poetry in black nasta'liq, illuminated heading at top (a little faded), wider margins ruled in gold, orange and blue, outer edges mounted with red paper speckled in gold, nineteenth-century inscription ("No. 125") and two later stamps to reverse, main drawing a little faded and water-stained, some light abrasion and soiling, overall a little worn and faded, total 260 by 165 mm. This intricate drawing is typical of Isfahani School paintings from this period and is stylistically comparable to the works of Reza Abbasi (1570-1635). During the reign of Shah Abbas I, Reza quickly became an affluent and influential artist who was considered the Shah's favourite. Reza's style was distinctive and began a large artistic movement in Isfahan in the early seventeenth century. The present example is likely the product of an associated workshop of a school of Reza's in Isfahan in the 1630s, which was then put together and used as an album leaf in the eighteenth century.