TEHRAN -- Tehran’s Shokuh Gallery is playing host to an exhibition of rare paintings of Imam Ali (AS), the first imam of the Shia.
A collection of 32 paintings depicting portraits of Imam Ali (AS) have been put on display, the gallery website reported on Sunday.
The portraits have been borrowed from the Museum of Oriental History and Civilization, and some date back 100 years.
Also included are 12 paintings by contemporary artists including Behnush Forutan, Hojjat Shakiba and Enayatollah Nazari.
Nazari explained that part of the paintings of portraits of Imam Ali (AS) date back to the Qajar era, “Several founders of teahouse painting like Hossein Qollar-Aqasi and Mohammad Modabber next continued to paint images of Imam Ali (AS)”.
Nazari is taking part with his colorful selection of paintings of “Allah”.
The gallery is observing the grand nights during Ramadan and this exhibit will give the visitors a better feeling for these nights, Forutan said.
The nights of the 19th, 21st, and 23rd of Ramadan are known as the ‘grand nights’ on one of which the Quran was sent down to the Prophet Muhammad (S).
Forutan is also displaying two of her paintings “Iranian Saqqakhaneh” (water drinking places) and “Portrait of Imam Ali (AS)”.
Shakiba also believes that the gallery is less active during the month of Ramadan, but this exhibit helps attract more visitors.
The exhibit will be running until the end of Ramadan at the gallery located at 19 Amir Nuri Alley, North Salimi St., Andarzgu Blvd.
RM/YAW
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