This painting DEFIES good documentation--I've tried again and again, but can't get a high resolution photo in sharp focus, or to quite match the green--details here are most helpful. I found this at an old school, longstanding antique shop in my neck of the woods this week-- it had just come in, and I must say it stopped me in my tracks! At some point I must have seen the most well-known example of this "interlaced horses" motif--from the Safavid period, Iran, early 17th century, which is held in the collection of the MFA Boston (Included at the end of my photos)--but I wasn't holding it in mind when saw this; I just thought what a completely gorgeous and stunning thing. With a little research I have found some other examples, in museums and elsewhere, some described as Persian, others as Indian, and have come to understand it as a much beloved theme (and one MC Escher surely was well familiar with!)
I took this out of the frame to examine closely and (try to) better photograph it. It is gouache on card, in excellent condition, I would guess 19th century. The modern custom frame, with a dark GRAY (I know it looks black in first photos but details give a better sense), lacquer-like finish and gold leafed raised frame at center, suits it very well but shows a few spots of surface damage/lacquer loss, which I have documented--one visible along the left edge, a few others on the sides of the frame.
Frame: 12" x 10 3/4". Painting: 7 1/8" x 5 3/8". Notes on frame above, painting in very good condition, all the more beautiful in hand, with the green a bit softer in color than photos convey. Feels rich and crisp and both painterly and precise.
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