Cheetah Trainer
c. 1560-70 - 1635
Attributed to Aqa Riza (Riza ‘Abbasi)
Persian
This is a small, exquisite drawing of a horseman with a cheetah seated behind him. The horseman sits straight up with both hands clasped on the saddle gazing into the distance, perhaps in expectation of game, while the small cheetah glances in the other direction. The silver flecks that have now tarnished to dull black in the paper obscure somewhat the fine details of the drawing, especially the subtle face of the man.
Gray-black ink on silver-flecked off-white paper
Safavid period