HOUSTON, TX — The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) offers a calendar brimming with enriching tours, classes, and events, and this June, one program in particular has captured the attention of The Texas Insider.
Art lovers are invited to experience “Artwork of the Month: Dancing Girl,” a focused tour held every Friday from June 13 to June 27, between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. at the Caroline Wiess Law Building, located at 1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005.
Led by museum docents, this intimate 30-minute tour takes visitors deep into a singular masterpiece—“Dancing Girl” by Muhammad Baqir, a Persian painter active during the late 18th century. This monumental work, painted in AH 1192 / AD 1778–79, is a standout of the Zand period (1750–1794), celebrated for its refined elegance and emotive portraiture.
Measuring nearly 5 feet tall, Dancing Girl is rendered in oil on canvas and reflects a compelling blend of Persian aesthetics and European artistic influence. The subject’s rosebud lips, dreamy eyes, and flowing hair embody the Persian ideal of beauty, while the painting’s use of perspective hints at Western techniques.
Muhammad Baqir was one of the most gifted artists of his time, known for his mastery in multiple media—including oil, watercolor, lacquer, enamel, and murals. His work helped define the era’s artistic legacy and significantly influenced the Qajar period that followed.
Now housed in the 114 Islamic Art Gallery at MFAH, the painting was acquired in 2015 thanks to the generous support of Franci Neely, and Sabiha and Omar Rehmatulla during the Art of the Islamic Worlds Gala.
The “Artwork of the Month” tour is part of MFAH’s broader initiative to spotlight diverse artistic traditions and foster deeper engagement with global art history. Visitors can explore the Art of the Islamic Worlds Department for more timeless treasures.
Beyond this program, MFAH’s June calendar includes exhibitions, film screenings, installations, and events that span centuries and continents, making it a gateway to the past, present, and future of human creativity.
To learn more and plan your visit, check out the full schedule at mfah.org/calendar.
