Soltan Morad Mirza Hesam

Description

Hesam-Al-Saltaneh was the 13th son of Abbas Mirza who was the crown-prince of Fath-Ali-shah. Born in 1233 H. and died in 1300 H, he was the uncle of Naser-Aldin-Shah Qajar.
He was the governor of Khorasan province when he received the imperial order to return the city of Herat back to the main land Iran. As the commander of the army, he managed to reconquer Herat. His victory caused the reaction of the British government which led to the “Agreement of Paris” in 1273 H. According to this agreement, Iran officially agreed to endow Afghanistan to the British government.
In his high-esteemed position in the court of Naser-Aldin-Shah, Hesam-Al-Saltaneh several times became the governor of Khorasan, Fars, Yazd and other provinces.
While he stayed in Shiraz, the capital of Fars province, many artists such as musicians, painters, calligraphers and poets gathered around him. Because of his passion for art, the most famous painter of Fars, Agha Bozorg was commissioned to execute this full-size portrait of Hesam-Al-Saltaneh.

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Soltan Morad Mirza Hesam-Al-Saltaneh
Oil painting on canvas
189 × 109 CM
Hesam-Al-Saltaneh was the 13th son of Abbas Mirza who was the crown-prince of Fath-Ali-shah. Born in 1233 H. and died in 1300 H, he was the uncle of Naser-Aldin-Shah Qajar.
He was the governor of Khorasan province when he received the imperial order to return the city of Herat back to the main land Iran. As the commander of the army, he managed to reconquer Herat. His victory caused the reaction of the British government which led to the “Agreement of Paris” in 1273 H. According to this agreement, Iran officially agreed to endow Afghanistan to the British government.
In his high-esteemed position in the court of Naser-Aldin-Shah, Hesam-Al-Saltaneh several times became the governor of Khorasan, Fars, Yazd and other provinces.
While he stayed in Shiraz, the capital of Fars province, many artists such as musicians, painters, calligraphers and poets gathered around him. Because of his passion for art, the most famous painter of Fars, Agha Bozorg was commissioned to execute this full-size portrait of Hesam-Al-Saltaneh.
This painting is regarded as one of the best works by Agha Bozorg of Shiraz. The elegant Nastalique calligraphy mentioning the name of Hesam-Al-Saltaneh in a poem on the upper right side of the painting and the signature on the lower left is boldly written.
The cashmere gown with fur collar is beautifully represented. All in all, through the power and skill of the artist, Agha Bozorg, the character of Hesam-Al-Saltaneh as a courageous and patriotic politician and art lover is beautifully represented in the painting.