Qum (Iran): Hazrat-i Ma'suma Shrine Complex and Islamic Cemetery in the Foreground

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Object Details

sova.fsa.a.04_ref10205

GUID

Local Numbers: FSA A.4 2.12.GN.26.12
General: Title and summary note are provided by Shabnam Rahimi-Golkhandan, FSg curatorial research specialist.

Creator: Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933
Names: Islamic Archives; Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933; Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970
Collection Creator: Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970

Place: Asia; Iran; Qum (Iran)

Topic: Architecture; Religious buildings; Shrines

Creator: Sevruguin, Antoin, 1851-1933

See more items in: Myron Bement Smith Collection; Myron Bement Smith Collection / Series 2: The Islamic Archives / 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs / 2.12.01: Glass Plate Negatives / Glass Plate Negatives: Sets 1-61

Biographical / Historical: Antoin Sevruguin is one of the early pioneers of commercial photography in Iran. He arrived in Iran from Tbilisi, Georgia in the mid 1870s to set up shop in Ala al-Dawla street in Tehran. From the early days, Sevruguin's studio was trusted both by the Qajar court and by foreign visitors to Iran. Highly regarded for their artistic ingenuity outside Iran, Sevruguin's photographs of 'ethnic types,' architecture and landscape, and depictions of daily life of Tehran found their way into foreign travelogues, magazines and books. As such, he stands alone in a relatively large group of early Iranian photographers for being recognized and celebrated outside the boundaries of the country. Antoin Sevruguin passed away in 1933, leaving behind only a fraction of his large collection of glass negatives, which is currently in the Archives of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Extent: 1 Glass negative (b&w, 23.8 cm. x 17.8 cm.)

Date: 1880-1920

Archival Repository: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

Identifier: FSA.A.04, Item FSA A.4 2.12.GN.26.12

Type: Archival materials; Glass negatives

Collection Citation: The Myron Bement Smith Collection, FSA A.04. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Katherine Dennis Smith.

Arrangement: According to Myron B. Smith handwritten document (Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran), Antoin Sevruguin's 696 glass negatives, at the time of their acquisition, were arranged into 61 boxes without any apparent organization. Today they are housed in archival document boxes, essentially duplicating the original arrangement, and stored on shelves. This glass negative was included into "Box 26."

Collection Rights: Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.

Existence and Location of Copies: Gelatin silver print numbered FSA A.4 2.12.Sm.55; available in Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.12: Antoin Sevruguin Photographs

Genre/Form: Glass negatives

Scope and Contents: "The intial construction on the site of the holy shrine - with an octoganal plan - in Qum dates back to 13th century. In addition to northward expansion of the whole complex, the original octagonal dome was also modified into a round structure in the earlier years of Safavid dynasty. the southwest corner of the structure houses the tombs of more than a few of Safavid kings, including Shah Sultan Hussayn and Shah Safi. In the 1880s, the new courtyard to the shrine was ordered by Amin al-Sultan, during which the two grand minarets of the western iwan and the two smaller minarets of the entrance were also added to the complex. The golden dome is dated back to Fath Ali Shah-I Qajar, which is consistent with the other restorations to religious buildings of the time. The image depicts the vast cemetary in front of the Shrine of Fatima al-Ma'suma with visitors to the tombs. It was deemed a great honour and a privilege for people to be buried on the site of the two holy shrines in Iran, Imam Riza Shrine of Mashhad and Fatima al-Ma'suma shrine in Qum." [Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, Curatorial Research Assistant]; - FSg curatorial research specialist remark on Antoin Sevruguin photo condition reads, "The glass negative is missing a piece in the lower right corner."; - Handwritten information on slip of paper (from a 1943-1944 cash book, produced by the Bathni Brothers, Tehran) reads, "216) Qom." [Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information]; - Myron Bement Smith handwritten caption in English reads, "47.P; Box 26.12: (P) [black-and-white print on hand]. Qum. Qum. Shrine of Fatimeh. General view (# 216)." [Myron Bement Smith Collection, Subseries 2.1: Islamic Archives History, Collection Information; Box 60; Folder 44: 47 P: Antoine Sevruguin, glass negatives, Iran]