Portrait of Mirza 'Ali Asghar Khan (Amin al-Mulk, Amin al-Sultan, Atabeg-i Azam)

ca. 1880

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 462

This is a portrait of Mirza ‘Ali Asghar Khan Amin al-Sultan, who became Prime Minister at the courts of the fourth and fifth rulers of the Qajar dynasty, Nasir al-Din Shah (r. 1848–1896), and his successor Muzaffar al-Din Shah (1896–1907). The painter, Ismaʿil Jalayir, an intriguing court artist of nineteenth-century Iran, covered many of his works with tiny vignettes of flora and fauna like the ones seen here. The portrait is set against a paradisical background, highlighting the opulence of the court, while the image of the minister, the furniture, and the objects surrounding him reflect an engagement with European art and photography. Although Jalayir rarely dated his paintings, this work bears a partially legible date, suggesting it was completed in A.H. 1299/A.D. 1880.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: Portrait of Mirza 'Ali Asghar Khan (Amin al-Mulk, Amin al-Sultan, Atabeg-i Azam)
Artist: Isma'il Jalayir (Iranian, active ca. 1858–81)
Date: ca. 1880
Geography: Made in Iran
Medium: Opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions: Painting:
H. 26 3/16 in. (66.5 cm)
W. 20 1/8 in. (51.1 cm)
With Frame:
H. 34 1/4 in. (87 cm)
W. 27 5/8 in. (70.1 cm)
Classification: Codices
Credit Line: Purchase, 2017 NoRuz at The Met Benefit, 2017
Object Number: 2017.645
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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