Calligraphic composition, Iran, 19th century, signed Abo'l Q - Lot 166

Calligraphic composition, Iran, 19th century, signed Abo'l Qasem Farhang ibn al-Vesal Calligraphic composition in polychrome inks on paper of several multidirectional lines of Persian in naskhi calligraphy. Signed lower right in black ink Abo'l Qasem Farhang ibn al-Vesal. Mounted on a muraqqa album page on red-bordered card. Dim. calligraphy: 20.1 x 13 cm; page: 28.8 x 19.6 cm Slight accidents and ink leaks, a few stains. This calligraphy in pastel polychrome inks reflects the taste and boldness of Qâjâr calligraphers revisiting traditional calligraphic styles. Abo'l Qasem Farhang ibn al-Vesal, who signed this calligraphy, is following in the footsteps of his father, the great poet and calligrapher Muhammad Shafi', known as Vesal, from Shiraz (1779-1846), whose important oeuvre includes calligraphies of this type, such as a page in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (1979.518.6), where the colored inks of the phrases calligraphed in all directions stand out against the black background of the paper. The same museum also preserves a work signed by ibn al-Vesal, an illuminated marriage contract (1979.518.5) in a more classical style.