Portrait of Muhammad Shaybani Khan
Miniature painting, Persianate manuscript illustration/album leaf • Attributed to Bihzad (Kamāl ud-Dīn Behzād)
Style & Movement
Timurid-Safavid transition / Herat School of Persian painting
Medium & Technique
Opaque watercolor (gouache), gold, and ink on paper
Creation Period
c. 1507
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 22 x 18 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
The painting depicts Muhammad Shaybani Khan, the founder of the Shaybanid Empire, seated cross-legged on a red carpet. He is shown with a distinctive central Asian features, wearing a blue caftan and a large white turban. Surrounding him are items of scholarship and governance: a book, several inkwells, and writing instruments, signifying his dual role as a conqueror and a man of letters. The inscription at the top identifies the sitter.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good for its age; visible pigment loss and surface abrasions consistent with 500+ years of age.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000 (Institutional valuation based on Behzad attribution)
Auction Estimate
$4,000,000 - $8,000,000
Provenance History
Likely originated in the Herat court; subsequently part of the Goloubew Collection; currently held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Fowler collection).
Art Historical Significance
One of the few surviving historical portraits attributed to Behzad, the most famous master of Persian painting. It marks a shift toward psychological realism in Eastern art and captures a pivotal moment of political transition in Central Asia.
Notable Features
Includes a calligraphic inscription in the upper cartouches identifying the sitter; features highly detailed rendering of the face which is uncharacteristic of the earlier, more idealized Timurid style.
Condition Issues
Visible flaking of pigments (especially in the blue and green areas), minor foxing, gilded border wear, and slight trimming of the paper edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment (50% RH, 20°C). Prohibit UV light exposure. Any restoration should be limited to stabilizing flaking pigments.
Collector Notes
Contemporary portrait of Muhammad Shaybani, c. 1507