Seated couple, Iran, early 20th century Gouache and gold on paper depicting a man and woman seated on a carpet against cushions, the man holding a bottle in his hand, the woman a rose that she presents to her beloved. Mounted as an album page on blue-painted card, with a calligraphic cartouche in Persian nasta'liq in black ink on a marbled background above the scene, the whole surrounded by several polychrome borders. The text on the cartouche is a verse from Sa'adi's Ghazaliat. Painting size: 17.9 x 15 cm; overall size: 34.5 x 27 cm Tears, including a larger transverse tear, stains, damaged margins.