A RING OF TEN INTERTWINED BARE YOUTHS
Possibly Isfahan School, Safavid Iran, late 17th - early 18th century

Opaque pigments, ink, and gold on wove paper, the vertical album page illustration depicting an unusual circle made of ten undressed youths, their naked bodies joint in a tight embrace, their skin tones alternating between light pink and grey, some youths wearing gold beaded crowns, bracelets, and anklets, set against a plain ground with illuminated floral stems and foliage, a later-added inscription in black ink on the upper left corner attributing the work to Mu'in Musavvir and dating it to Rajab 1089 AH (1678 AD), set within gold and red rules, and concentric polychrome borders, 28.8cm x 18.6cm.

Provenance: Sotheby's London, 16 October 1996, lot 65.