Art. XX.—A Description of a Persian Painting, presented by the Right Honourable Lord Western to the Royal Asiatic Society

Extract

The architecture of the building in which the figures are represented, points it out as the interior of a hamam or warm bath. The apartment is the first room, which is kept at a moderate temperature, and has usually, as is here exhibited, a fountain of cold water playing in the centre. The figures are females, and from their dress are at once recognised to be Christians, who are not suffered in Mohammedan countries to wear the bûrka, or entire veil of the ladies of Islam; but are merely permitted, when walking the streets, to conceal the lower part of the face by a white muslin cloth.