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Dost Muhammad (d.1863), Amir of Afghanistan, with his three sons, Muhammad Akram Khan, Haidar Khan and Abdul Ghani Khan, seated on a carpet

Unknown

1840

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Dost Muhammad (d.1863), Amir of Afghanistan, with his three sons, Muhammad Akram Khan, Haidar Khan and Abdul Ghani Khan, seated on a carpet is a 1840 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1840 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

Four men sit cross-legged on a patterned rug in front of a window. The man in the center wears green and holds a book, while the others wear bright orange, black, and blue robes. Each has a turban or headwrap, and a small plate of fruit sits between them. The rug’s borders are decorated with red and blue designs, and the background shows a distant view of water. The man in green looks like the leader, with a white headband and a book in his lap. The others seem younger, dressed in simpler but still colorful clothes. If you like this kind of detailed portrait, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

A seated group portrait depicts Dost Muhammad, Amir of Afghanistan until his death in 1863, alongside his three sons—Muhammad Akram Khan, Haidar Khan, and Abdul Ghani Khan—arranged on a carpet.

Read the full account in the museum source.