Artwork
Reclining Lady Holding a Fan
Reclining Lady Holding a Fan is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Unknown. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Reclining Lady Holding a Fan is an oil painting depicting a woman lounging on a couch with a fan. The work is characteristic of a style that emerged during the Qajar dynasty in Iran.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a reclining female figure, likely an imaginary portrait of a royal harem member. The subject is presented in a flattened form, with an emphasis on decorative detail.
Technique & Style
The painting features a single, large figure with a flattened form, but richly detailed. This style is marked by a lack of depth and curvature, differing from typical representations of the human body.
History & Provenance
The painting was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1876, reportedly from the Shah's palace in Tehran. It may have originated from a palace built by Fath 'Ali Shah, the second Qajar ruler, known for reviving oil painting in Iran.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
