{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O120816"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O120816/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GT1606/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2013GT1606/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2013GT1606","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM7228","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JX8818","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9849","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O120816/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O120816","accessionNumber":"IM.237-1921","objectType":"Painting","titles":[{"title":"Nadir Shah","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The portrait of Nadir Shah of Iran (r. 1736-47) was done in the north of the subcontinent, possibly in Delhi, and is signed by the artist, Muhammad Panah. Another version, also naming Muhammad Panah and dated 1742, is in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The brilliant red of Nadir Shah's robe stands against the silvery grey background and pale blue rug to provide a powerful image of the man who swept into India from Iran in 1738 and looted the Mughal treasury in Delhi. He removed vast quantities of jewels (including the Koh-i nur diamond and the gem-incrusted throne of Shah Jahan, the 17th century Mughal emperor), and manuscripts from the royal library. The ruler and the artist are identified in the Persian inscription on the right, and a later inscription in Gurmukhi script on the back repeats Nadir Shah's name.\r\nThe painting was bequeathed by Sir Robert Nathan who bought it 1904 or 1905 when he was private secretary to the Viceroy from Maulvi Muhammad Husain, a judge at the Small Claims Court, Delhi.","physicalDescription":"Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, portrait of Nadir Shah of Iran. The brilliant red of Nadir Shah's robe stands out against the silvery grey background and pale blue rug. He kneels facing right with his back resting against a bolster.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Muhammad Panah","id":"A17139"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28674"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"opaque watercolour","id":"x35013"},{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"paper","id":"AAT14109"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper","categories":[{"text":"Paintings","id":"THES48917"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"},{"text":"Royalty","id":"THES48899"},{"text":"Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project","id":"THES263148"}],"styles":[{"text":"Mughal","id":"AAT18939"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2013GT1606","2006AM7228","2017JX8818","2017KC9849"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES403720"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"painting","id":"AAT54216"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Mughal Empire","id":"THES262021"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c. 1740","earliest":"1735-01-01","latest":"1744-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sir Robert Nathan, K.C.S.I., C.I.E","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"15.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Likeness of the King of Kings, Nadir Shah, in the place of assembly. Work of Muhammad Panah","transliteration":"Taswir-e Shah-e Shahan Jamjah Nadir Shah. Amal-e Muhammad Panah","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Sir Robert Nathan acquired this painting in India in 1904 or 1905 when he was private secretary to the Viceroy. He bought it from Maulvi Muhammad Husain, a judge in the Small Claims Court in Delhi.\r\n\r\nGiven by Sir Robert Nathan, K.C.S.I., C.I.E. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.\r\n\r\nR.P. 1921-4451","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Painting, Nadir Shah of Iran, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, c. 1740","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Stronge, S. (Ed.) \"The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms\", V&A, 1999","id":"AUTH327365"},"details":"cat. 29, p. 212 and pl. 6, p. 18.","free":"Ekaterina Schcherbina, ed., India: Jewels That Enchanted the World. Moscow Kremlin Museums, 2014, cat. 46 p. 122"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"portrait of the Iranian ruler Nadir Shah. The brilliant red of Nadir Shah's robe stands out against the silvery grey background and pale blue rug. He kneels facing right with his back resting against a bolster.","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Nadir Shah","id":"N14877"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IM.237-1921"],"accessionNumberNum":"237","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1921,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-03","availableToBook":true}}