Fath Ali Shah Qajar (reg. 1797-1834) seated at a balcony window
Qajar Persia, late 19th Century
oil on canvas, nasta'liq inscription within cartouche at centre left
76.5 x 64 cm.
Footnotes:
The inscription reads: al-Sultan Fath'ali Shah Qajar.

The portrait appears to derive from the depiction of Fath' Ali Shah enthroned, in a fresco in the Negarestan Palace, Tehran, in particular the crown with its patterning and the sarpech and the distinctive fan-like ornament above; the bazubands and other regalia on his upper body; and the hilt of the dagger.

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In generally good condition. There are two small areas of paint loss, at centre left, near the edge of the painting, and in the lower left corner. The canvas has not been relined, but is perhaps slightly loose to the stretcher. The painting appears to have been given a fairly rudimentary surface clean at some time in the past. There is no evidence of any repainting under ultraviolet light. The small white spots visible on the surface of the canvas are simply blobs of paint caught in the rather rough weave of the canvas, which as also caused some slight unevenness in the application of paint in some areas.