Lot Essay
Works by Najaf 'Ali are often signed 'ya Shah-i Najaf' (Oh King of Najaf), in reference to the burial site of Imam 'Ali. He was most active during the mid-19th Century and was followed later by his sons and other members of his family. Najaf 'Ali is recorded as being particularly fond of painting images of European women and Christian religious scenes, for example see Nasser D. Khalili, B.W. Robinson and Tim Stanley, Lacquer of the Islamic Lands, vol.II, London, 1997, pl.267-268, pp.75-76.