Fath ‘Ali Shah (1797-1834) 2nd Qajar Shah of Iran

Location

Country: Iran
City: Tehran
Place: British Embassy

Ahmad was a Persian painter, specialising in oil portraits of the Qajar rulers Fath ‘Ali Shah (reigned 1797-1834) and Muhammad (reigned 1834-48). He may have been a pupil of Persian artist Mihr ‘Ali (active c.1795-1830). He made two early portraits of Fath ‘Ali Shah: one of 1818-19 (untraced) depicts the ruler in armour, seated in a throne; a second was in the Government Art Collection. His later works became more European in style and include three portraits of Muhammad: an 1841 version (sold through Tajan, Paris, in 2006); an 1844 painting of Muhammad reviewing his troops (Gulistan Palace Library, Tehran) and an 1846 head and shoulders portrait (Firuz private collection). Two paintings of female acrobats have also been attributed to him.

People

Fath 'Ali Shah (1771 - 1834)

Places

Subjects

vase (as Subject), hookah/argileh, royal portrait, Iranian Qajar dynasty, flower, Iranian, man, Middle Eastern, ceremonial costume, pearls, belt, sceptre, crown, Shah, sword, Islam, postish (large pillow), curtain, carpet, state interior

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Ahmad

Title

Fath ‘Ali Shah (1797-1834) 2nd Qajar Shah of Iran

Date

1832-33

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 163.00 cm, width: 165.00 cm

Acquisition

Origin uncertain - probably presented by the sitter or his family

Inscription

bl: Ahmad 1248

Provenance

Probably presented by the sitter or his family to the British Ambassador to Persia (Iran), early 19C.

GAC number

5230