Collection
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Arts of the Islamic World

Portrait of Ahmad Shah as a Young Boy, One of 274 Vintage Photographs

Antoin Sevruguin

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

The young, precocious boy pictured in this photograph by Sevruguin has been tentatively identified as Malijak Aziz al-Sultan, known historically as the passive object of Nasir al-Din Shah’s desire. It has also been suggested that he could be Ahmad Shah, the last ruler of the Qajar dynasty (r. 1909–1925). No matter what the true identity of the subject, this portrait shows Sevruguin’s skill in capturing and portraying human personalities rather than stock image types.

Caption

Antoin Sevruguin (1851 – 1933). Portrait of Ahmad Shah as a Young Boy, One of 274 Vintage Photographs, ca. 1890 or 1900–1905. Gelatin silver photograph, 6 1/2 x 4 9/16 in. (16.5 x 11.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchase gift of Leona Soudavar in memory of Ahmad Soudavar, 1997.3.101. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Portrait of Ahmad Shah as a Young Boy, One of 274 Vintage Photographs

Date

ca. 1890 or 1900–1905

Dynasty

Qajar

Period

Qajar Period

Medium

Gelatin silver photograph

Classification

Photograph

Dimensions

6 1/2 x 4 9/16 in. (16.5 x 11.6 cm)

Inscriptions

In pencil on verso, "106999"

Markings

Stamp on verso, "NOTICE: / If this picture is accepted for your publication, it is for your / use only and the following credit / must be printed underneah each reproduction. / PHOTOGRAPH, UNDERWOOD & UNDERWOOD, N.Y."

Credit Line

Purchase gift of Leona Soudavar in memory of Ahmad Soudavar

Accession Number

1997.3.101

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Artists and makers

Antoin Sevruguin

16 works in the collection