Nasser Ovissi, (Iranian, Born 1934) "Darius and Atossa" Oil on Canvas Painting

Nasser Ovissi, (Iranian, Born 1934) "Daryoosh and Atosa" Oil on Canvas Painting. Very fine quality painting by Persian Artist Nasser Ovissi who is considered to be known as the "Picasso of Iran". A true modern Iranian masterpiece depicting Darius the great and Queen Atossa, in a vibrant turquoise background with exceptional gold highlights. Darius I was the fourth Persian king of the Achaemenid Empire. He ruled the Empire at its peak, when it included much of West Asia, the Caucasus, parts of the Balkans (Thrace-Macedonia, and Paeonia), most of the Black Sea coastal regions, parts of the North Caucasus, Central Asia, as far as the Indus Valley in the far east and portions of north and northeast Africa including Egypt eastern Libya, and coastal Sudan. A major event in Darius's life was his expedition to punish Athens and Eretria for their aid in the Ionian Revolt and subjugate Greece. Although ultimately ending in failure at the Battle of Marathon, Darius succeeded in the re-subjugation of Thrace, Expansion of the Empire through the conquest of Macedon, the Cyclades and the island of Naxos and the sacking of the city of Eretria. Darius also worked on construction projects throughout the Empire, focusing on Susa, Pasargadae, Persepolis, Babylon, and Egypt. He had the cliff-face Behistun Inscription carved to record his conquests, an important testimony of the Old Persian language. Darius is mentioned in the biblical books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra–Nehemiah. Atossa was an Achaemenid empress and daughter of Cyrus the Great and Cassandane. She lived from 550 BC to 475 BC and was a sister-wife of the Persian king of kings Cambyses II and wife of Darius I. The name Atossa (or Atusa) means "the girl with beautiful legs". It can also mean "well trickling" or "well granting". Atossa was born in 550 BC in Pasargadae. She was eldest daughter of Cyrus the Great and Cassandane. Atossa married her brother Cambyses II, probably after death of her father. Oil on canvas, unframed. Signed. Size: 32" high x 42" wide Nasser Ovissi is an American-Iranian painter whose work is characterized by stylized figures of Arabic women and horses. Set amidst geometric patterns and decorative elements, his figures seem to merge into and out of the space behind them. “My work is dedicated to the beauty of life and I hope those who experience my work will walk away with an experience of beauty.” Born in Tehran, Iran in 1934, Ovissi studied Law and Political Sciences at the University of Tehran before studying Fine art at Beaux Fine Art in Rome. The artist has achieved numerous awards and honors, including being exhibited at the 1959 Paris Biennial and a grand prize at the 1962 Biennale of fine arts of Tehran. Ovissi lives and works in Reston, VA. His works are included in the collections of the Contemporary Art Museum in Madrid and the National Art Gallery of Greece in Athens.