Persian Miniature Painting: Portrait of the Prince Aqa Mirak Tabriz
Persian Miniature Painting: Portrait of the Prince Aqa Mirak Tabriz, Circa 1530
Portrait of the Prince by Aqa Mirak Tabriz, Circa 1530
Shah Tahmasp
Plate 62. Persia, circa 1530, Sultan Mohammed, Collection of H. Vever.
La Miniature En Orient by Ernst Kuhnel 1925
Detached miniature formerly in the Goloubew collection. By the clothing we can date this to the reign of Shah Tahmasp but it is a bit of a stretch to conclude as Martin did that this is a portrait of the sovereign. In the upper right hand corner is the seal of a former owner. The marginal painting is old but of a different provenance,
Translator’s Note:
I have to side with Martin in this case. I believe that this is a portrait of Shah Tahmasp. Aqa Mirak was the close confidant of Tahmasp Safavi and appears to have done a number of portraits of the Shah. Frankly I always suspected that they were lovers but proving that is another matter. Nonetheless I think this piece is best attributed to to Aqa Mirak.
Attribution: Aqa Mirak Tabriz, Circa 1530
Please note the position of the body in particular the position of the hips and torso to the feet. Soudavar refers to what he calls an “Unnatural twist” as a distinguishing characteristic of how Aqa Mirak positions his subjects. Please also note the prince and the figure on the right share similarities in the drape of the garment and how the tip of the coat extends out of the picture. One especially telling point is the treatment of the sleeve and how the inside of the sleeve of the coat is visible.
Detail “Two Safavid Princes”
Please note the small mouth, the turban decoration, the width variation of the Taj, the thin necks, and rounded faces.
Detail “Two Safavid Princes”
Note: My ongoing translation and commentary on “La Miniature En Orient” is a work in progress. I am publishing it one plate at a time in no particular order. I flip through the book and look for one that looks fun and then I do that one next. I suppose the order in which I publish them says something about my taste in art. My primary goal with this project is not to teach you about Islamic Art but rather it is to teach myself a little about Islamic Art. If I make an error please let me know. I am also doing the project this way so that if I make an error perhaps one of you will catch it for me. By the way I also decided that this would be a chance to learn a little more French, since I barely know enough to make it through a menu in a French Restaurant.