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Lot Essay
The eulogy reads:
amir-e mamlekat gosha amin-e molk-e padsha
mo'in-e din-e mostafa zamin-e rezq-kharha
yeganeh sadr-e mohtaram mahin amir-e mohtasham
atabak-e shah-e 'ajam amin-e shahriyarha
(The Commander who conquers land, the trustee of the king
The defender of the religion of Muhammad, the sponsor of those who seek livelihood
The incomparable respected Chief, the greatest powerful Commander
The Guardian of the Persian king, the trustee of monarchs).
mira sepehr martebata joz kaf-e to nist
surat pazir gardad agar feyz-e dadgar
gar nam-e to be-nameh-ye suratgaran barand
khizad jomleh az pey-e ta'zim-e to sovar
(O Commander! O the one whose rank of honour [is as high as] heavens! There is nothing other than your hand
That could make The Grace of the Omnipotent assume shape
If your name is taken to painters
Paintings will rise (be created), all in order to honour you).
kari keh in amir darin ruzgar kard
in ruzgar fakhr be-ruz shomar kard
guyand shod negin-e soleyman shekar-e div
in divha-ye dawlat shah ra shekar kard
(What this Commander did at the time
Made this time counted as a glorious one
It is said the ring of Solomon became a hunt for devil
The devils of government hunted the king).
shabih-e surat-e janab-e sedarat nesab vezarat ma'ab amir-e lashkar vazir-e keshvar qavam-e 'azamat va ejlal nezam-e heshmat va eqbal moshir-e amjad-e mo'azzam vazir-e ashraf-e mofakhkham atabak-e a'zam shakhs-e avval-e iran mirza taqi khan amir-e nezam-e ba ehtesham dar sinn-e chehel - panj salegi.
(The portrait of His excellency who has the rank of the Premiership, the position of a Minister, the Commander of the army (amir-e lashkar), the Minister of the country, the Pillar of majesty and grandeur, Order for magnificence and prosperity, the most glorious and respectable Councillor, the most noble and illustrious Minister, the greatest Guardian (atabak-e a'zam), the first man of Iran, Mirza Taqi Khan Amir Nezam, possessed of grandeur at the age of forty five.'
Taqi Khan Amir Kabir (b. circa AH 1220/1805 AD) rose from a humble background to become the Prime Minister. He was made Amir-e Nizam in 1257 (1841-2 AD), Atabak-e A'zam and Prime Minister in 1264 (1847-8 AD), keeping all previous titles and positions. On 22 Dhi'l-Qa'da 1264 (AH) he was given the title Amir Kabir. He was removed from his post on 20 Muharram 1268 (15 November 1851) and exiled in Kashan where he was murdered in the Fin Bath by the order of Nasir al-Din Shah on 18 Rabi' I, 1268 (AD 11 January 1852). He is one of the most respected politicians Iran has ever seen with his numerous achievements that cover every sphere of life. These include his administration and reform in the army, establishment of the Dar al-Funun for sciences and Dar al-Sanayi' as a centre for arts and crafts in Tehran, his victories over a few uprisings, establishment of newspapers, improving postal services, and agriculture. For his full biography see M.Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, 1700-1900, vol. 1, Tehran, 1966, pp. 209-221.
Judging by the last couplet, this portrait may have been made between his arrest on 20 Muharram 1268 (15 November 1851), and his murder on 18 Rabi' I, 1268 (11 January 1852 AD).
amir-e mamlekat gosha amin-e molk-e padsha
mo'in-e din-e mostafa zamin-e rezq-kharha
yeganeh sadr-e mohtaram mahin amir-e mohtasham
atabak-e shah-e 'ajam amin-e shahriyarha
(The Commander who conquers land, the trustee of the king
The defender of the religion of Muhammad, the sponsor of those who seek livelihood
The incomparable respected Chief, the greatest powerful Commander
The Guardian of the Persian king, the trustee of monarchs).
mira sepehr martebata joz kaf-e to nist
surat pazir gardad agar feyz-e dadgar
gar nam-e to be-nameh-ye suratgaran barand
khizad jomleh az pey-e ta'zim-e to sovar
(O Commander! O the one whose rank of honour [is as high as] heavens! There is nothing other than your hand
That could make The Grace of the Omnipotent assume shape
If your name is taken to painters
Paintings will rise (be created), all in order to honour you).
kari keh in amir darin ruzgar kard
in ruzgar fakhr be-ruz shomar kard
guyand shod negin-e soleyman shekar-e div
in divha-ye dawlat shah ra shekar kard
(What this Commander did at the time
Made this time counted as a glorious one
It is said the ring of Solomon became a hunt for devil
The devils of government hunted the king).
shabih-e surat-e janab-e sedarat nesab vezarat ma'ab amir-e lashkar vazir-e keshvar qavam-e 'azamat va ejlal nezam-e heshmat va eqbal moshir-e amjad-e mo'azzam vazir-e ashraf-e mofakhkham atabak-e a'zam shakhs-e avval-e iran mirza taqi khan amir-e nezam-e ba ehtesham dar sinn-e chehel - panj salegi.
(The portrait of His excellency who has the rank of the Premiership, the position of a Minister, the Commander of the army (amir-e lashkar), the Minister of the country, the Pillar of majesty and grandeur, Order for magnificence and prosperity, the most glorious and respectable Councillor, the most noble and illustrious Minister, the greatest Guardian (atabak-e a'zam), the first man of Iran, Mirza Taqi Khan Amir Nezam, possessed of grandeur at the age of forty five.'
Taqi Khan Amir Kabir (b. circa AH 1220/1805 AD) rose from a humble background to become the Prime Minister. He was made Amir-e Nizam in 1257 (1841-2 AD), Atabak-e A'zam and Prime Minister in 1264 (1847-8 AD), keeping all previous titles and positions. On 22 Dhi'l-Qa'da 1264 (AH) he was given the title Amir Kabir. He was removed from his post on 20 Muharram 1268 (15 November 1851) and exiled in Kashan where he was murdered in the Fin Bath by the order of Nasir al-Din Shah on 18 Rabi' I, 1268 (AD 11 January 1852). He is one of the most respected politicians Iran has ever seen with his numerous achievements that cover every sphere of life. These include his administration and reform in the army, establishment of the Dar al-Funun for sciences and Dar al-Sanayi' as a centre for arts and crafts in Tehran, his victories over a few uprisings, establishment of newspapers, improving postal services, and agriculture. For his full biography see M.Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, 1700-1900, vol. 1, Tehran, 1966, pp. 209-221.
Judging by the last couplet, this portrait may have been made between his arrest on 20 Muharram 1268 (15 November 1851), and his murder on 18 Rabi' I, 1268 (11 January 1852 AD).