Four paintings after the murals of the Chehel Sutun Palace, Qajar Iran, late 19th - early 20th century (2)

FOUR PAINTINGS AFTER THE MURALS OF THE CHEHEL SUTUN PALACE

QAJAR IRAN, LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Oil on wood, depicting the conquest of India by Nadir Shah Afshar, the Battle of Chaldiran, Shah Abbas receiving Nadir Muhammad Khan, and the Battle of Merv, all framed

42 3/8 x 32 ½in. (107.5 x 82.5cm.) and 41 x 21 ¾in. (104.2 x 55.4cm.)

One of the most important edifices constructed within the Sa’adatabad royal precinct of Isfahan was the Chehel Sutun, a ceremonial hall completed by Shah 'Abbas II in 1647. The Chehel Sutun was the palace in which banquets and audiences, including more private court functions took place (Babaie, 2003, pp.42-43).

Wall paintings with literary themes and courtly rituals of entertainment grace many walls and niches of this palace. These paintings are the best preserved of Persian mural decorations and have inspired generations of artists up to today. Contemporaneous accounts such as those of the Persian court historian Abdil Beg and the French traveller Chardin provide us with important references to these paintings including those now lost. Our paintings are amongst an important Qajar recreation of four of the important murals which are still standing within the palace walls.