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Lot Essay
Shah Shuja was the second son of Shah Jahan (r. 1628-58) and Mumtaz Mahal and brother to Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh. His royal status is indicated by the golden halo around his head and flywhisk in his left hand. Our portrait of Shah Shuja can be compared to two from the Late Shah Jahan Album. One of these was sold from the collection of Jean Pozzi at Hotel Drouot, Paris, 2 December 1970, lot 22 and the other in these Rooms, 10 June 2015, lot 10.
Mir 'Ali al-Katib (d. 1556) is often mentioned by Safavid sources as one of the most important nasta'liq calligraphers of all time. The works of leading Persian calligraphers were prized at the Mughal court and Mir ‘Ali was amongst those particularly admired by Jahangir. A large number of qit’as signed by him found their way into important Mughal albums, and he is the calligrapher responsible for most of the specimens in the late Shah Jahan album. A nasta'liq quatrain by Mir' Ali mounted in an imperial Mughal album page, perhaps the Late Shah Jahan album, was sold in these Rooms, 28 October 2020, lot 74.
Mir 'Ali al-Katib (d. 1556) is often mentioned by Safavid sources as one of the most important nasta'liq calligraphers of all time. The works of leading Persian calligraphers were prized at the Mughal court and Mir ‘Ali was amongst those particularly admired by Jahangir. A large number of qit’as signed by him found their way into important Mughal albums, and he is the calligrapher responsible for most of the specimens in the late Shah Jahan album. A nasta'liq quatrain by Mir' Ali mounted in an imperial Mughal album page, perhaps the Late Shah Jahan album, was sold in these Rooms, 28 October 2020, lot 74.