Moʿin Moṣavver | Individual Drawings and Paintings

Drawing 1674.4

Portrait of Naẓar ʿAli Beg, Son of Alqās Mirzā

Location: Current whereabouts unknown. Ex-Collection of Lucy Truman Aldrich (d.1955). Acquired from the estate of Ms. Aldrich in 1955 by Peggy and David Rockefeller and sold 10 May 2018 at Christies NY.
Painting with opaque colors and gold on paper: (W x H) 9.5 x 19.7 cm. Leaf 16 x 26.9 cm.
Signature: Unsigned but dated 1084 /1674.

Inscription
At the bottom left, reads: ruz-e šanba bist-o-haštom-e šahr-e ramażān al-mobārak ba etmām rasid.. mobārak mā.
Translation: "Completed Saturday the twenty eighth of the Blessed month of Ramażān. Blessed moon"
The inscription appears to be in Moʿin’s handwriting, but the last two lines may be a later addition by another hand. The inscription is not signed.

Description:
The drawing is executed in colors and gold and mounted to an album page. It portrays a young man, apparently of noble upringing, seated on the ground facing left. He is identified by an inscription in the top margin as Naẓar ʿAli Beg, Son of Alqās Mirzā. His left hand is resting on the hilt of his sword, and in the right hand he holds a goblet. He is portrayed in a scarlet robe with fur collar, a light blue waist sash, a light pink shawl draped loosely around his upper torso, and purple turban decorated with gold. A small tree, some small foliage scattered about, and stylized scroll clouds at the top, all rendered in gold on a plain paper ground, suggest an idyllic landscape. A pot bellied vessel and some fruit are placed on the ground before him.

Bibliography:
Ellsworth, Rockefeller_1993, vol.III, p.284-5, no.214
Christie's (New York), 10 May 2018, lot 1009
Sothebys (London), 23 October 2019, lot 168

Commentary:
Despite the lack of a signature, this painting can be attributed to Moʿin. Cf. 1676.3 znd 1676.6 for similar Moʿin portraits of youths, and 1683.1 which is nearly identical.

Photo courtesy of Sothebys,

Robert Eng
Last Updated: 9 May 2020 | Originally published: 9 May 2020