“Nashmi the Archer”
This was an interesting deep dive.
“Nashmi the Archer” is a wonderful painting by the Iranian artist, Riza‑yi ‘Abbasi, from 1622. This detailed piece is ink, opaque watercolor, and gold leaf on paper.
‘Abbasi was one of the leading Persian miniaturist artists from the Isfahan School of art, in modern day Iran. Riza developed a style that used heavy calligraphic lines, bright colors, and a monotone background. He had a great impact on the Persian miniature art form. The Isfahan School helped to support the intellectual, philosophical, artistic, and academic growth that was spurred on by the Safavid Dynasty.
‘Abbasi was known for his individual portraitures. In this piece, he paints a solitary archer smoking from a Safavid-era qalyan, or waterpipe. The qalyan is an oriental inspired water pipe, which uses water to cool the smoke before inhalation. The pipe is colorful, decorated with the upper bust of a man.
The archer is smartly dressed in the style of the time. He is wearing a turban with a red pointed finial in the center. The red in his turban may indicate that he is a member of the Qizilbash, an elite calvary. A ring decorates the thumb on his right hand. He holds his bow in his left hand, hanging down by his side.
The background of the piece is delicately decorated with foliage, grass, and clouds in a monotone color scheme. Smoke is rising from the burning pipe. ‘Abbasi signed the back of the painting, “the most humble Riza ‘Abbasi drew it”. He dated the piece to February 25, 1622. The painting is small, at just 7-1/2″ x 3-15/16″ (10 x 19 cm).
Riza spent most of his career working for Shāh Abbas I, who is considered the greatest Shāh of Iran during the Safavid dynasty. He received the respectable title of Abbasi from the Shāh in 1603 and was his favorite artist.
This piece may actually be a social commentary. During the reign of Shāh Abbas I, also known as Abbas the Great, there was a period of great military and political reform, with a transition to more modern warfare. The Qizilbash military leaders were replaced with a standing professional army. The archer, who once had a prominent role in warfare, was being phased out by cannon, guns, and other artillery. The archers were no longer in great demand, and with lack of work, they took to smoking and fell out of shape.
‘Abbasi’s student, Mu’in Musavvir, made a copy of the Nashmi portrait. Also titled “Nashmi the Archer”, Musavvir’s painting is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., in the United States. He wrote, “In the likeness of Nashmi the archer and…[which] my late master, Riza Abbasi, had created on the date of 1039 (1629) during the reign of the world protecting shah, Shah Safi; painted by the lowly servant on the date of….Mu’in Musavvir”.
Image Source
“Nashmi the Archer” is in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States.
For more on Riza‑yi ‘Abbasi, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
