Arcadópolis
Man in a Long-sleeved Coat
Reza Abbasi, c. 1598
What you see
At the center of the page, inside several frames, a standing man tilts his head slightly to the right and lowers his gaze. He wears a large turban, a short beard and a long coat; his hands meet at the waist, where the end of one long sleeve hangs down. A broad sash circles his body, and the coat falls to his feet.
There is almost no color: only fine, sure reddish lines on beige paper, a little darker in the beard and eyes. The drawing is mounted on a page with borders of several colors and a pink margin filled with golden flowers and tendrils. Follow the folds of the coat, set down with very few strokes.
About Reza Abbasi
Reza Abbasi (c. 1565–1635), also called Aqa Riza, was the leading artist at the court of Shah Abbas I, who gave him the honorary title “Abbasi” in 1603. Although he also illustrated manuscripts, his specialty was single pages for albums, with one or two elegant figures drawn in a flowing, calligraphic line. He signed and dated many of his works, and his style influenced many later Persian painters, such as his pupil Mu'in Musavvir and his own son, Shafi Abbasi.
More by Reza Abbasi
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