The young man is holding and reading a small book (bayaz, or safina) of elongated format (“Italian format”), with some calligraphy inside broad margins of colored paper. This book includes a dozens of words, apparently from a Persian amorous poem. The painter who signed the margin of the “Young man” in the Louvre is Muhammad Murad. The central figure of the young man with a composite dress is the work of Muhammad Sharif. The same artists also realized the Washington page.
According to their style and to the signatures of these painters, this masterpiece of art from Mawarannahr must be dated from the beginning of the 17th century, at the beginning of Ashtarkhanid – or Janid – rule in Bukhara, since 1599.
At that time, the Juybari Naqshbandi family was also very powerful in Bukhara and could be also patron of our painters.
You can learn more about the topic in the book-album "Illustrated manuscripts from Mawarannahr in the collections of France" (Volume XXIX) in the series "The Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan".
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