Nadir Shah
1740
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1740
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Nadir Shah is a 1740 paint by Muhammad Panah, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
You see a portrait of Nadir Shah, an Iranian king, wearing a bright red robe. The artist used bold colors to make Nadir Shah stand out. The red robe is especially striking against the grey background and blue rug. This painting was made during a time when Nadir Shah was making big changes in India. To learn more about this style, look into the work of artist Muhammad Panah.
Nadir Shah is depicted in a portrait painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper. The ruler kneels facing right, supported by a bolster, with his red robe contrasting against a silvery grey background and a pale blue rug. The Persian inscription on the right identifies both the subject and the artist, Muhammad Panah, while a later Gurmukhi inscription on the reverse also names Nadir Shah. The painting was acquired in Delhi in 1904 or 1905 by Sir Robert Nathan from Maulvi Muhammad Husain and later bequeathed to the collection.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Muhammad Panah worked in 18th-century Persia, painting portraits of powerful figures.
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