QAJAR IRAN, MID-19TH CENTURY

This watercolor depicts Prince 'Abbas Mirza leading the Persian troops into battle against the Russians during the Fifth Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) at the Erivan Fortress. 'Abbas Mirza (r.1789–1833), son of Fath 'Ali Shah, was appointed Crown Prince and viceroy of Azerbaijan, playing a crucial role in military campaigns against Russia and Turkey. He worked to modernise the Persian army with European advisors and contributed to the cultural and commercial growth of Tabriz. Several well-known paintings depict the Russo-Persian War, including the famous work by Mirza Baba, which portrays, Fath 'Ali Shah’s victory over the Russians at Yerevan (Siege of Erivan), currently in the National Museum of Iran in Tehran. Three additional Persian paintings of 'Abbas Mirza commanding his army in battle against the Russians are in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg (Layla S. Diba, Royal Persian Paintings, The Qajar Epoch 1785-1925, New York, 1999, nos. 50-52, pp.199-202).