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Kadhim Hayder (Iraq, 1932-1985)A Love Deeper than All Love (Wa hawa aemaq min kuli hawa) , from the Epic of the Martyr Series oil on canvas, framed signed "K.HADAR" and dated "1963" (lower left), executed in 1963 100 x 70cm (39 3/8 x 27 9/16in).Footnotes"A LOVE DEEPER THAN ALL LOVE" A RARE AND MAGNIFICENT PAINTING FROM KADHIM HAYDER'S MARTYRS EPIC, FROM THE COLLECTION OF PROFESSOR ABDUL AZIZ HAMEED, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE IRAQI STATE BOARD OF ANTIQUITIES "The horse represents the knight, keeping with the popular belief that the horse carries the spirit of the knight after his martyrdom" - Kadhim Hayder "The exhibition of The Epic of the Martyr took place in circumstances that were politically and culturally complicated; it turned the idea of martyrdom into a modern symbol that cried out in tragedy apart from any religious interpretation." - Dia al-Azzawi Provenance: Property from the collection of Dr Abdul Aziz Hameed, Canada, former Professor at the Institute of Fine Arts, Baghdad (1960's), and former President of the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (2004-2010), Acquired directly by the above from the artist in 1965 Exhibited: The Marty's Epic, Kadhim Hayder, Baghdad National Museum, 1965 (the present work is composition No.6 from the cycle) The Marty's Epic, Kadhim Hayder, Sursock Museum, Beirut 1965 Published: Review of the Epic of the Martyr, Al Thawra Al Arabiyya, Anwar Al-Ghasani, May 7th 1965, illustrated Kul Al-Funoon, May 26th 1965, illustrated Al-Balad, April 28th 1965, illustrated One of the artists most touching and tender compositions, "A Love Deeper than All Love" is a seminal painting by Iraq's most enigmatic modern artist, Kadhim Hayder. Part of Hayder's major body of work focusing on the Battle of Karbala and death of Imam Hussein known as the "Marty's Epic", the present painting was exhibited at the artists landmark shows in the National Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad and Beirut in 1965 as well as being one of the most heavily featured works from the cycle, appearing in no less than three major press reviews at the time Being offered in the market for the first time, the work comes from the prestigious private collection of one of Hayder's oldest friends; Professor Abdul Aziz Hameed. The two became acquainted during their studies at SOAS in the 1950's, subsequently becoming colleagues at the Baghdad Faculty of fine Arts in the 1960's, Hameed then went on to become President of the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, the painting has been in his collection for over half a century. Extremely rare and possibly unique within the Martyr's Cycle, Hayder's composition in "A Love Deeper than All Love", focuses on a romantic and deeply personal subject matter rather than the bloody battle of Karbala itself or the martyrdom of its protagonist, Imam Hussein. In the present work, Hussein is depicted as an anthropomorphised horse together with this Persian wife Shahbanu as the two are rendered standing affectionately side by side, in perhaps what is Hayder's most intimate take on the fabled story. Legend states that Shahbanu was present during the battle of Karbala, but includes a miraculous aspect to the story. It states that prior to his death, Husayn gave Shahrbanu his horse and bid her to escape back to her homeland in Persia. She was closely pursued by Yazid's soldiers and as she approached the mountains surrounding Rey, she tried to call out to God in desperation. However, in her exhaustion she misspoke and rather than saying "Yallahu!" (Oh God!), she said "Ya kuh!" (Oh mountain!). The mountain then miraculously opened and she rode into it, leaving behind only a piece of her veil which had gotten caught as the chasm closed behind her. This became an object of veneration, with the area becoming a shrine as well as a popular pilgrimage site Saleem Al Bahloly: The Epic of the Martyr: "Haidar began working on the series in 1963 shortly after returning from London where he had studied printmaki