A Portrait of Karim Khan Zand on Horseback, attributable to Abu'l Hasan Ghaffari Mustawfi Kashani, Persia, late 18th century

Gouache heightened with gold on paper, depicting Karim Khan Zand on horseback holding a bow in his right hand, the horse reins in his left, set in blue borders and laid down on card

In good overall condition, a few minor stains, laid down on card, as viewed.
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The painter Abu'l Hasan Ghaffari Mustawfi Kashani, to whom this lively composition can be attributed, is known to have chiefly painted historical personalities and portraits of his contemporaries. After two years of painting apprenticeship, the artist joined the employment of Karim Khan Zand (who we see here depicted with his typically square jaw and intense, piercing gaze) as court secretary.

The present work is a continuation of the style of the later Safavid artists Muhammad Zaman and 'Ali Quli Jabbadar, and bears comparison in terms of livliness and palette to a portrait of Shah 'Abbas II by the same artist in the collection of the Late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (previously attributed to Muhammad Zaman, published in Diba & Ekhtiar 1998, p.148-9, no.23). It is likely that this portrait was painted by Abu'l Hasan during Karim Khan's reign (1749-79), and judging by the similarities between the work at hand and a further depiction of Karim Khan Zand and his horse by the same artist sold at Christie's London, 27 April 2004, lot 81 (particularly the treatment of the horse), it seems likely that the portrait was painted from life, and that the horse was the ruler's own.