ATTRIBUTED TO MIRZA HASSAN KHAN, PROBABLY TABRIZ, IRAN, CIRCA 1870-80

A very closely related portrait of Muzaffar al-Din with an identification inscription and signed by Mirza Hasan Khan is in the collection of M. Metgalchi (Julian Raby, Qajar Portraits, London, 1999, no.125, pp.68-69). Both portraits depict Muzaffar al-Din seated on a chair with gilded decoration with his legs crossed. Our portrait depicts the crown Prince in formal attire wearing a ceremonial coat adorned with medals of orders including the order of St. Andrew of Russia, the French Legion d’Honneur and two Persian medals. The portrait was probably executed in Tabriz at the time when the crown prince was governor of Azerbaijan Province. The artist Hassan Khan was probably also known by the name Muhammad Hassan Khan, who was recorded as having received the title of naqqash-bashi from Muzaffar al-Din in 1874. Hassan Khan was trained at the Dar al-Funun in Tehran and shows clear influence from the style of Sani al-Mulk who was also noted for having painted a portrait of Muzaffar al-Din .