Artwork
Dervish of Bokhara with Inkhorn and Diak
Dervish of Bokhara with Inkhorn and Diak is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A watercolour drawing by Aloysius Preziosi portrays a dervish from Bokhara, identifiable by his traditional attire, including a long white robe, red sash, tall pointed hat, and long beard. He is depicted holding a string of beads in one hand and an inkhorn alongside a diak (a meditation prop) in the other.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a member of a Sufi Muslim order, emphasized through his clothing and accessories. The diak and beads signify the dervish's meditative and spiritual practices, while the inkhorn may allude to scholarly or literary pursuits.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the work exhibits delicacy and subtlety, contrasting with the rugged, contemplative appearance of the dervish. The medium's transparency and fluidity are leveraged to capture the textures of the subject's attire and the nuanced expression.
History & Provenance
The drawing was acquired in April 1966 from N. Vilag, alongside related works. Multiple versions of this subject are known, suggesting possible production by Preziosi's assistants or imitators to meet demand for his orientalist figure studies.
Artist & collection
Artist
Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi
Amedeo Preziosi (2 December 1816 – 27 September 1882) was a Maltese painter and traveler known for his watercolours and prints of Constantinople, the Balkans, Ottoman Empire, and Romania.
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![A Seller of Milk-puddings [Mahallebi], by Aloysius Rosarius Amadeus Raymondus Andreas Preziosi](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/aloysius-rosarius-amadeus-raymondus-andreas-preziosi--a-seller-of-milk-puddings-mahallebi--3da9fd2db017402d-w320.webp)
![A Servant of the Sultan[?], by William Page](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/william-page--a-servant-of-the-sultan--e1a8abdac6100882-w320.webp)
A Servant of the Sultan[?]
A Nubian selling Canes
Persian Shawl-Merchant
Kalyoncu, or Sea Captain
Mahmoud - Athens -
An Official at the Court of the Sultan
A seller of Fezes and Amber mouthpieces
Young Soldier
Zülüflü Baltaci, or Page of the first rank to the Sultan
A Mamluk from Aleppo
Officer, possibly a Spahi
Janissary at the English Palace Constantinople