A Persian Portrait of Fath Ali Shah Qajar

A richly decorative oil on canvas depicting Fath Ali Shah Qajar, the second Shah of Iran and one of the most iconic figures of the Qajar dynasty.

Seated in formal court dress upon an elaborate carpet, the ruler is shown wearing a towering jewelled headdress, pearl-encrusted robes and an ornate sword, surrounded by the lavish regalia that became synonymous with Qajar royal portraiture. The composition draws upon the celebrated court images commissioned during Fath Ali Shah’s reign, whose distinctive appearance and magnificent beard became enduring symbols of Persian kingship.

The painting displays the characteristic aesthetic of the Qajar period, where decorative richness often took precedence over strict realism. Intricate ornamentation is carried across every surface, from the gemstones and textiles to the finely patterned carpets and architectural details. Following a recent surface clean, the extraordinary colour palette has re-emerged, revealing vibrant turquoise, crimson, emerald green, gold and violet tones that had long been obscured beneath decades of accumulated grime.

Retaining its original hand-tacked construction, the work exhibits the charm and craftsmanship associated with Qajar decorative painting.

88 x 80cm