Ensemble de quatre peintures représentant un héros en train de tuer un dragon et des scènes de fables persanes, Qadjar, Perse, milieu du XIXème siècle Four paintings, one depicting a hero slaying a dragon, the remainder scenes from Persian fables Qajar Persia, mid-19th Century gouache on paper, ruled margins the largest (sight) 21 x 13.5 cm.; the smallest (sight) 10.5 x 13.5 cm.(4) Footnotes: Provenance Acquired by Baron Leon Rolin 'The Lion of Cairo' (1871-1950) or his daughter, Jacqueline Rolin (1902-1975) and thence by descent. Leon Rolin (1871-1950), nicknamed 'The Lion of Cairo', was the owner of contracting firm Leon Rolin & Co, one of the two largest civil contractors in Egypt. The firm was charged with construction of the Heliopolis Palace Hotel, later the presidential palace of the Mubarak administration. The Heliopolis Palace Hotel was an ambitious project, built in the open desert between 1908-1910, and opening as Africa's most luxurious hotel on December 1st 1910. During the construction and inspired by their surroundings, his wife, Madeleine Shaar (1876-1954) started a collection of Islamic art. His daughter Jacqueline continued to avidly collect and was present at the auction of the contents of the Royal Palace of King Farouk. She later returned to Belgium and distributed her rich collection amongst her children and their descendants. The subjects depicted are: 1. A hero, probably Rustam, or perhaps Goshtasp or Khosrow, slaying a dragon. 2. A hero, perhaps Bahram Gur, in combat with a lioness. 3. A donkey fleeing a lioness, with deer looking on. 4. Elephants crushing hares. The scene depicting a hero in combat with a lioness may depict the story of Bahram Gur hunting with Azadah: although typically he is shown killing wild beasts with a bow and arrow, he may here be finishing off the beast with his dagger. Two of the scenes are illustrations to fables, such as those found in the famous compilation Anvar-i Suhaili by Husayn Va'iz Kashifi (1436-1504/5). For an illustrated leaf from a Qajar manuscript of the text, circa 1840, in which animals and birds gather to discuss returning to the court of the Prophet Suleyman, see G. Fellinger (ed.), L'Empire des Roses: chefs-d'oeuvre de l'art persan du XIX siecle, Lens 2018, p. 199, no. 197. The tale of the hares and the elephants is from the book of fables 'Iyar-i Danish (The Criterion of Knowledge), a Persian version of the Kalilah va Dimnah. Thirty-five illustrations from a Lucknow version, circa 1780-82, were part of the Johnson Album, formerly in the India Office Library, now in the British Library, including two depictions of this fable (see T. Falk, M. Archer, Indian Miniatures in the India Office Library, London 1981, no. 352, xxvii and xxx; also illustrated in S. Markel (ed.), India's Fabled City: the Art of Courtly Lucknow, Los Angeles 2011, p. 62, nos. 137 and 138). In the first of the Johnson Album paintings, the hares complain to their king that some of their number were crushed by elephants who had come to drink at the 'fountain of the moon'; the second image shows the elephants drinking and crushing the hares, as does ours. Important Notice to Buyers Some countries, e.g., the US, prohibit or restrict the purchase by its citizens (wherever located) and/or the import of certain types of works of particular origins. As a convenience to buyers, Bonhams has marked with the symbol R all lots of Iranian (Persian), Syrian or Afghan origin. It is each buyer's responsibility to ensure that they do not bid on or import a lot in contravention of the sanctions or trade embargoes that apply to them. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: R R This lot is subject to import restrictions when shipped to the United States. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing