A portrait of Nadir Shah on horseback, Persia, late 18th century

Ex-collection Vakil al-Molk, private secretary to Muzaffar al-Din Shah Qajar, thence by descent

The present painting shows a continuation of the style of the late Safavid artists Muhammad Zaman and ‘Ali Quli Jabbadar. Nadir Shah is shown riding a rearing horse, a composition closely related to a portrait attributed to Muhammad ‘Ali ibn ‘Abd al-Bayg ibn ‘Ali Quli Jabbadar in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (inv. no.14.646, Diba and Ekhtiar 1998, pp.143-3, no.22). The modelling of the horse and the costume of Nadir Shah bear further resemblance to a portrait of Karim Khan Zand, attributed to Abu'l Hasan Ghaffari Mustawfi Kashani, sold in these rooms, 6 October 2010, lot 91, and another sold at Christie’s, 27 April 2004, lot 81.