Portrait of Muhammad Shah
Unknown Artist
early 19th century
Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: H. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm) W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm) Page: H. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm) W. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm) Mat: H. 19 1/4 in. (48.9 cm) W. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1918
Accession Number
18.76.4
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate portrait from the early 19th century captures Muhammad Shah in profile, rendered with fine ink lines, vibrant opaque watercolor, and shimmering gold accents on paper. Created as part of a codex, the work exemplifies the refined traditions of Islamic manuscript illustration, where such intimate portraits often served to document rulers and dignitaries within historical or literary volumes. Its modest scale—roughly the size of a small book page—suggests it was meant for close viewing, inviting viewers to appreciate the subtle details of the figure’s attire and expression. The unkn...