A PORTRAIT OF ZEYNAL KHAN SHAMLU (OR SYNAL CHAEN)
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ENGLISH BIBLIOPHILE
Aegidius Sadeler II (1570 - 1629), Prague, circa 1604 - 1605

Engraving on paper, depicting a bust portrait of Zeynal Khan Shamlu, also known as Sinal Beig Shamlu, renowned Persian nobleman, military commander and ambassador of Shah Abbas I to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, wearing a heavy, multi-folded turban and brocaded overcoat with male figures in the wilderness, following the fashion of Safavid textiles of the time, with long hairy moustaches, set within an oval frame, lettered in Latin 'SYNAL CHAEN SERENISSIMUS PRINCEPS IN PERSIA. MAGNI SOPHI REGIS PERSARUM AD AUGUSTUM CAESAREM RUDOLPHUM II LEGATUS ' with a further inscription in Persian below loosely translating the Latin text, the paper watermarked with a tower towards the bottom of the page, mounted on a white cardboard frame, the page 23cm x 14.9cm.

Provenance: Purchased at Reiss & Auvermann auction house in 1986.

Engravings of Zeynal Khan (or Synal Chaen in Latin), such as ours, are part of several international museums' collections like the British Museum (inv. no. O,2.101, Bb,12.393), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (inv. no. 61.663.252), and the Rijksmuseum (inv. no. RP-P-OB-4995). The engravings in the museums' collections are usually attributed to the work of the Flemish painter and printmaker, Aegidius Sadeler II, who was inspired by the work of Esaye le Gillon, another Flemish painter at the imperial court of Rudolf II in Prague during the early 17th century. Sadeler's engravings of this sitter tend to feature the date in Roman numerals MDCIIII (1604), which corresponds to the time when the Persian ambassador Zeynal Khan headed Shah Abbas I's embassy to Prague. Sadeler produced several portraits of foreign ambassadors and noblemen visiting the court, including Sir Anthony Shirley and Mehdi Quli Beg, another Persian nobleman who joined Zeynal Khan in Prague in December 1604.

The visit to Prague and the diplomatic relations between Zeynal Khan and the court of Rudolf II were supposed to consolidate into a stronger front of resistance against the Ottomans, who took over Transylvania in 1605 casting an allegiance with Stephan Bocskay. Despite Rudolf II's reassurance he would carry on the war against the Turks, by the time the Persian ambassador reached his motherland the king was forced to sign the Peace Treaty of Zivta-Torok in November 1606, breaking his promises to both Shah Abbas I and Zeynal Khan. After his return, Zeynal Khan went on to high positions in the service of Shah Abbas and his successor Shah Safi. In the years to come, he led a successful diplomatic career as ambassador to the Mughal court of Jahangir and Commander-in-Chief of the Safavid army, defending Baghdad against a Turkish invasion. Nevertheless, the disastrous defeat of Mahidasht near Kermanshah on 4 May 1630 led to his trial and execution, commanded by the Shah himself.

Several engravings of Zeynal Khan have appeared in the London auction market in recent years. The most recent result was achieved at Christie's London, 1 April 2021, lot 16, featuring engraved portraits of three foreign ambassadors at the court of Rudolf II, Zeynal Khan, Mehdi Quli Beg and Anthony Shirley.