Delicately painted portrait of the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai

[Painted Peepal Leaf]. [Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum].

$2,001.00

Beautiful portrait of Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum (1912-90), the founder of the United Arab Emirates, handpainted on a dried peepal leaf. It is delicately painted and clearly recognisable. Sheikh Rashid was the vice president and second prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai from 1958 to 1990. It is in large part because of him that Dubai, then a cluster of settlements, transformed into the modern city it is today.

Peepal leaf painting is an ancient art from India and China. After a leaf has been selected, it takes between 30 and 45 days to dry it completely. Then it can take up to a full day to finish the painting. Especially for portraits, the details have to be accurate to create the likeness of a person on such a small surface. The structure of the leaf gives it a unique finish, which cannot be replicated on any other painting support.

The leaf is slightly stained around the edges, with some irregularities on the right side, slightly affecting the image. Otherwise in very good condition.