File:The Wedding of Naser al-Din Shah.jpg

This charming wedding scene depicts the marriage of Nasir al-Din Shah (r.1848-96) to his first and most beloved wife Jayran (Khadijeh Khanum Tajrishi, b.1831). This ceremony would have taken place in 1851, a year before the Shah’s chief minister, Amir Kabir who is also depicted and identified in our painting was executed by the Shah. Known for her beauty and charm, Jayran was one of the Shah’s favourite lovers. She lived a short life and died in 1860 from contracting tuberculosis after losing all four of her children in childhood. Although she suffered great sadness and pain in her later years, she lived a very romantic and beautiful life with the Shah during their nine years together.

Our painting is signed by the master Hossein Qollar-Aghasi (b.1902), who is celebrated as one of the pioneers of the Iranian 'coffee-house' painting genre. Developed as a visual aid for storytelling in traditional Iranian teahouses, coffee-house painting is a genre of painting devoted to Iranian religious, national, and mythological tales. They are imaginative, colourful, and highly detailed such as this wedding scene. Hossein was the son of master 'Ali-Reza Qollar-Aghasi (Naqqash-Bashi), a famous and experienced designer of tile-work patterns. He resolutely devoted his efforts to the development of coffee-house painting, creating magnificent canvas works and mural frescoes. He was captivated with vivid colours, and he sought every pretext to reproduce the lively tones which would bring his images to life. Works by our artist are housed in many international museums such as Le musée du Quai Branly (inv. no. 71.1968.31.36), the Reza 'Abbasi Museum and Malek Museum and Library in Tehran.