Nadir Shah
Painting
c. 1740 (made)
c. 1740 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The portrait of Nadir Shah of Iran (r. 1736-47) was done in the north of the subcontinent, possibly in Delhi, and is signed by the artist, Muhammad Panah. Another version, also naming Muhammad Panah and dated 1742, is in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The brilliant red of Nadir Shah's robe stands against the silvery grey background and pale blue rug to provide a powerful image of the man who swept into India from Iran in 1738 and looted the Mughal treasury in Delhi. He removed vast quantities of jewels (including the Koh-i nur diamond and the gem-incrusted throne of Shah Jahan, the 17th century Mughal emperor), and manuscripts from the royal library. The ruler and the artist are identified in the Persian inscription on the right, and a later inscription in Gurmukhi script on the back repeats Nadir Shah's name.
The painting was bequeathed by Sir Robert Nathan who bought it 1904 or 1905 when he was private secretary to the Viceroy from Maulvi Muhammad Husain, a judge at the Small Claims Court, Delhi.
The painting was bequeathed by Sir Robert Nathan who bought it 1904 or 1905 when he was private secretary to the Viceroy from Maulvi Muhammad Husain, a judge at the Small Claims Court, Delhi.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Nadir Shah (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Nadir Shah of Iran, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, c. 1740 |
| Physical description | Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, portrait of Nadir Shah of Iran. The brilliant red of Nadir Shah's robe stands out against the silvery grey background and pale blue rug. He kneels facing right with his back resting against a bolster. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | portrait of the Iranian ruler Nadir Shah. The brilliant red of Nadir Shah's robe stands out against the silvery grey background and pale blue rug. He kneels facing right with his back resting against a bolster. |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Sir Robert Nathan, K.C.S.I., C.I.E |
| Object history | Sir Robert Nathan acquired this painting in India in 1904 or 1905 when he was private secretary to the Viceroy. He bought it from Maulvi Muhammad Husain, a judge in the Small Claims Court in Delhi. Given by Sir Robert Nathan, K.C.S.I., C.I.E. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project. R.P. 1921-4451 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The portrait of Nadir Shah of Iran (r. 1736-47) was done in the north of the subcontinent, possibly in Delhi, and is signed by the artist, Muhammad Panah. Another version, also naming Muhammad Panah and dated 1742, is in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The brilliant red of Nadir Shah's robe stands against the silvery grey background and pale blue rug to provide a powerful image of the man who swept into India from Iran in 1738 and looted the Mughal treasury in Delhi. He removed vast quantities of jewels (including the Koh-i nur diamond and the gem-incrusted throne of Shah Jahan, the 17th century Mughal emperor), and manuscripts from the royal library. The ruler and the artist are identified in the Persian inscription on the right, and a later inscription in Gurmukhi script on the back repeats Nadir Shah's name. The painting was bequeathed by Sir Robert Nathan who bought it 1904 or 1905 when he was private secretary to the Viceroy from Maulvi Muhammad Husain, a judge at the Small Claims Court, Delhi. |
| Bibliographic reference | Stronge, S. (Ed.) "The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms", V&A, 1999
cat. 29, p. 212 and pl. 6, p. 18.
Ekaterina Schcherbina, ed., India: Jewels That Enchanted the World. Moscow Kremlin Museums, 2014, cat. 46 p. 122 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.237-1921 |
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| Record created | February 3, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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