This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Portrait of the Crown Prince Abbas Mirza (AH 1203–1248 / AD 1789–1833)

Location:

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Holding Museum:

Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

About Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Date of Object:

c. Hegira 1233-35 / c. AD 1818-20

Museum Inventory Number:

2014.13.1

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Oil on canvas with wooden frame

Dimensions:

211.5 x 109cm

Period / Dynasty:

Qajar

Provenance:

Iran

Description:

This painting was originally conceived as architectural decoration, as it was intended to fill niches or partitions in royal palaces. It depicts two main themes; life size portraiture of Abbas Mirza and a battle scene. The portraits were characterised by their high level of details and bright palette (primarily pink, royal blue, turquoise and translucent green). Among the interesting feature of this painting is the background scene which shows a long line of troops standing against a forest background. The troops are depicted wearing European style costume; this reveals the importance of the modernization of the army of Abbas Mirza, which is a common theme in many Abbas Mirza’s portraits. However, one particular interest here is the single soldier looking directly at us, who is larger in size than the soldiers and thus of a more important status. It is believed that this soldier is a self-portrait of the artist who is believed to be Muhammad Hassan (Hegira 1233 / AD 1818).

Selected bibliography:

Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Symbols of Power and Beauty: The collection of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur: IAMM Publications, 2015: 35 – 37.
Basil William Robinson, “Qajar Painted Enamels”, in R. Pinder-Wilson (ed.), Paintings from Islamic Lands, Oxford: Oriental Studies IV., 1969: 187-204.

Citation of this web page:

 "Portrait of the Crown Prince Abbas Mirza (AH 1203–1248 / AD 1789–1833)" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;my;Mus21;2;en

MWNF Working Number: MY1 02