Artwork
Shah Tahmasp of Iran
Shah Tahmasp of Iran is a paint painting by the Mughal Painting artist Sahifa Banu. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This early‑modern portrait depicts Shah Tahmasp, the Safavid monarch who ruled Iran from 1524 to 1576.
About this work
Overview
This early‑modern portrait depicts Shah Tahmasp, the Safavid monarch who ruled Iran from 1524 to 1576. Rendered on a single folio, the figure is seated on an ornate carpet, wearing a white turban and a robe edged in gold, his hands resting on an open book. The background consists of a flat gold leaf surface, emphasizing the sitter’s status.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents the Shah in a contemplative pose, suggesting both royal authority and scholarly inclination. The inclusion of a book underscores the cultural patronage associated with Tahmasp’s reign, while the luxurious garments and gold‑lined robe signal his wealth and the court’s aesthetic values.
Technique & Style
Executed with fine brushwork, the portrait combines realistic facial rendering with stylised decorative elements typical of Persian court painting. The gold leaf background provides a luminous field that unifies the composition, and the black Persian inscription below the image identifies the sitter and the artist in a clear, formal script.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the early 17th century and bears an inscription attributing it to Sahifa Banu, a female painter about whom no biographical details survive. The folio’s reverse side contains an illuminated calligraphic panel (catalogued as IM.117a‑1921). In 1921, Lady Wantage donated this folio, along with related pieces, to the museum.
Context
Portraits of Safavid rulers were commonly produced for diplomatic exchange and internal propaganda. While most such works were created by male artists, this piece stands out as a rare example of a woman’s hand in the genre, reflecting the limited but notable participation of women in Persian artistic workshops of the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ṣaḥīfa Bānū (early 17th century) was a miniature painter during the reign of Jahangir.
Zu'lfiqar Khan
Untitled
Persian calligraphy framed by an ornamental border of flowers, birds, and deer, from the Late Shah Jahan Album
Shamsa (sunburst) with portrait of Aurangzeb (1618–1707), from the Emperor's Album (the Kevorkian Album)
Emperor Babur
Leaf from the Late Shah Jahan Album: Harem Night-Bathing Scene (recto); Calligraphy Framed by an Ornamental Border of Flowers and Birds (verso)
Untitled
