This striking image of a Persian (Iranian) woman in "chadre" (chador), beautifully rendered in watercolor, is signed G. (I believe it is G) Shelley, and was executed on laid paper with a 1813 watermark. It is nearly identical to an engraving by Scottish artist, author, diplomat and traveller Sir Robert Ker Porter (1777–1842), which was included in his Travels in Georgia, Persia, Armenia, Ancient Babylonia, 1817–1820--published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown in London, and which I've included at the end of my photos. While it seems most likely this watercolor was done just after Porter's engraving, the fact of its extreme closeness, its execution in watercolor, and the watermark date do make one wonder if it could have been the original source? I have not been able to find enough about Porter's process and travels leading up to the publication to determine whether he might have been accompanied by another artist or artists completing travel sketches upon which the engravings would be made....
In any event, really an evocative and powerful image I think on many levels, and definitely about 200 years old. It is in excellent antique condition, super bright and clear, with only very light toning and staining. The title/description is hand-written in pencil, and on reverse simply Sir R. Porter, watercolor, and 85-, surely a sale price from many years ago. I purchased this from a seller in California from a lifelong collector beginning to sell off works.
Paper size 9" x 7 1/4".
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