Four 19th Century Qajar period Persian miniature paintings

This set of four Persian paintings truly capture the beauty and intricate detail that is paramount to the art of Persian miniature painting. Miniature painting as an art form originated as small works on paper that were made to be held in an album or as illustrated manuscripts, and have become one of the most well-established kinds of Persian art.

These four paintings, a complimenting set, each feature geometrically repeating foliate borders, around detailed palace and landscape scenes. The paintings are strikingly colourful and stylistically excellent. The first painting depicts a scene showing the interior of a palace and the outside tiled garden, with figures engaged in a variety of activities throughout. The second painting shows a small lodging in a landscape, outside which many figures are sat cross-legged sharing a meal. The third painting shows a rocky, mountainous landscape through which a figure on horseback chases a lion, which appears to be mauling a horse. The fourth painting shows a fenced garden with seated figures making offerings of food to a figure sat under a pagoda, while a man to the centre appears to writhe in pain.

The paintings are all set within wooden frames, and bear inscriptions and signatures in Farsi. The paintings are all approximately of the same dimensions, with the main image correctly showing the relative sizes of all four artworks.