Portrait of Muhammad Shah Qajar and his Vizier Haj Mirza Aghasi
Unknown Artist
second quarter 19th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 15 in. (38.1 cm) W. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Abolala Soudavar, in memory of Ezzat-Malek Soudavar, 2014
Accession Number
2014.739
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking portrait from the second quarter of the19th century captures Muhammad Shah Qajar, the fourth ruler of Iran's Qajar dynasty (r. 1834–1848), alongside his vizier, Haj Mirza Aghasi Created by an unknown artist using ink, opaque watercolor, and on paper, it exemplifies refined traditions of Persian manuscript painting, often found in codices or album leaves like this one (H. 15 in., 38.1 cm; W. 10 7/8 in., 27.6 cm). The detailed depiction of the king and his advisor in military clothing, complete with swords, underscores their authority and martial prowess, common motifs in Qajar cou...