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Dost Md Khan taken at Kabul

Godfrey Thomas Vigne

1836

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Dost Md Khan taken at Kabul is a 1836 watercolor by Godfrey Thomas Vigne, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Godfrey Thomas Vigne
When & what style?: 1836 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a watercolor portrait of a man with a long white beard and a patterned turban. His red scarf peeks out from under a gray robe, and his dark eyes look straight ahead. The colors are soft, with the turban’s blue and gold patterns standing out against the light background. The signature at the bottom reads *"Dost Md Khan taken at Kabul"*, hinting this might be a historical figure. The artist used watercolor, keeping the style simple but detailed, especially in the face and clothing. Look up Vigne, Godfrey Thomas (FRGS) next to see how he captured other portraits from that time.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing depicts Dost Muhammad Khan, Amir of Kabul from 1834 to 1840, when he was removed from power by the British in favor of Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk. The work was later reproduced as a lithograph in Godfrey Thomas Vigne’s 1840 publication *A Personal Narrative of a Visit to Ghuzni, Kabul, And Afghanistan*. The artist’s great-nephew, Henry D'Olier Vigne, sold the drawing in 1971 to Rodney Searight for £200. The piece is part of a broader collection of related sketches held in the India Office Library and Records.

Read the full account in the museum source.