English: The Governor of 'Arabistan, perhaps Khanlar Mirza Ihtisham al-Dawlah (d. AH 1278/AD 1861-2)

Qajar Persia, dated Jumadi II 1283/October-November 1866

Oil on canvas, inscribed in nasta'liq script in white centre left 151.5 x 117 cm. Footnotes

According to the inscription, the portrait depicts the Governor of 'Arabistan (modern Khuzistan) when he was just over forty. The date has been trimmed at the edge of the canvas), during Nasir al-Din Shah period. The scribe's name is damaged, though it ends with Zayn al-'Abidin al-Husayni, known as Mirza aqa-ye Shirazi (unidentified). The date given is Jumadi II 1283/October-November 1866. The figure in Arab headdress in the background would seem to confirm the location of his governorship.

Governors of 'Arabistan in the year AH 1264/AD 1847-48 were Ardashir Mirza, the 9th son of 'Abbas Mirza Na'ib al-Saltanah, for a short period (see M. Bamdad, Dictionary of National Biography of Iran, 1700-1900, vol. 1, Tehran, pp. 106-07); and Khanlar Mirza Ihtisham al-Dawlah (d. AH 1278/AD 1861-62), who held the post between AH 1264-1275/AD 1847-1858. He was the 17th son of 'Abbas Mirza Na'ib al-Saltanh and held the governorship of various provinces. He was involved in the war with the British, which he lost in AH 1273/AD 1857. (See M. Bamdad, op. cit., vol. 1, pp. 473-76).

Known images of Khanlar Mirza show him as a younger person, but the date of the painting make it likely that he is the sitter. The scribe mentioned in the inscription has not been identified. From the very few words that can be read, the text on the letter seems to be a part of a note but it was not meant to say anything specific.