Nadir Shah During the Sack of Delhi

This painting is about Nadir Shah's invasion of India, perhaps showing the king on horseback during the sack of Delhi. It is probably made in mid 18th century by Persian court artists. It is now kept in Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA. Persian invasion of India, to some extent was so cruel in terms of their plundering of the capital city of Delhi. Many were also massacred by the invaders. The city was sacked for several days. An enormous fine of 20 million rupees was levied on the people of Delhi. Muhammad Shah handed over the keys to treasury, and lost the Peacock Throne, to Nadir Shah, which thereafter served as a symbol of Persian Imperial might.

Persian prince in India - Mughal Period

This painting shows a Persian prince in India. I am guessing that he is a member of Afsharid dynasty due to the form of his headgear. The painting is kept in Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, USA. I believe it was made sometime around 18th-19th century during Mughal Period in India. Emperor Nadir Shah, the Shah of Iran (1736–47) and founder of the Afsharid dynasty, invaded Northern India with a fifty-five thousand strong army, eventually attacking Delhi in March 1739 where he sacked the city, after issuing orders for a general massacre to take place. Afsharid invasion had harsh consequences for Indians leading to their subjugation by British in the years to come.

A Prince of Persia

Painting.
Period: Mughal Empire, India.
Date: 18th-19th century.
Creation Place: India.
Material and Technique: Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper.
Size: 21.5 x 15 cm.
Kept in Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, USA.
Source: [1].

This painting shows a Persian prince in India. I am guessing that he is a member of Afsharid dynasty due to the form of his headgear.

Portrait of Nadir Shah of Iran

Painting
Era: Mughal Empire, India
Date:  circa 1900s
Materials and Techniques: Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Size: 30.6 x 22.9 cm
Kept in the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art, Washington DC, USA.
Source: [1]

نقاشی نادر شاه افشار - امپراتوری مغولان هند - موزه اسمیتسونین، واشنگتن دی سی‌، آمریکا

There are few similar Indian paintings of Nadir Shah in USA. This is one of them. What is weird is the date this work was done, which is around 1900s. I have few doubts about the date. I think it might have been created much earlier than that somewhere in 18th century.

Nadir is an important and controversial  figure in Indian history, who was among the last foreign invaders who plundered India. After his victory over Mughal India, he took most of the Indian treasures such as Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor diamond back to his native Iran.

A Rare Portrait of Nadir Shah

Painting
Era: Afsharid Dynasty or Mughal Empire, India
Date:  1740's
Materials and Techniques: Gouache with gold and ink on buff wasli leaf
Size: 8 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches
Artifacts Collections of New York Inc.
Source: [1]

نقاشی نادر شاه افشار - امپراتوری مغولان هند - مجموعه‌ هنری نیویورک

Wasli [2], also referred to as wasli paper, is a type of handmade acid-free paper used specifically for painting miniatures because of its archival qualities. It was devised in India, in the 10th century, and it was widely used in Mughal-era painting.

This is another portrait of Nadir Shah (1688-1747) who ruled as Shah of Persia from 1736-1747. He became the founder of the Afsharid Dynasty after deposing the remnants of the Safavid Dynasty under Shah Abbas III in 1736. He conquered Mughal Northern India and in 1739 occupied Delhi and carried away the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond prior to his triumphant return to Persia.

Nadir Shah is depicted here, in middle-age seated against a large bolster, both hands holding his campaign sword. He is dressed in Turkmen style with fur stole and characteristic jeweled headgear with feathered aigrette. This painting is very similar to two kept in the Freer Gallery of Art and Sackler Gallery in the Smithsonian Institution: [3],[4]

Nadir Shah Bestows a Crown to Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah

Painting
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 18th Century (1774)
Artist: Abol-Hassan
Material and Technique: Oil on canvas
Kept in Saadabad Palace, Tehran, Iran.
Sources: [1],[2]

نقاشی نادر شاه - دوره افشار - موزه سعد آباد

This among rare portraits of Nadir Shah by a Persian artist. Most of his portraits are done by Mughal Indian painters. In this scene, Nadir shah is giving a new crown to the Mughal emperor, Muhammad Shah [3] to show his authority over him.

Another Portrait of Nadir Shah Afshar

Painting
Era: Mughal Empire, India
Date: mid-18th century
Materials and Techniques: Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Size: 19.9 x 10.5 cm
Kept in the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art, Washington DC, USA.
Source: [1]

نقاشی نادر شاه افشار - امپراتوری مغولان هند - موزه اسمیتسونین، واشنگتن دی سی‌، آمریکا

This image is used in the cover of a book called The Rise and Fall of Nader Shah: Dutch East India Company Reports, 1730-1747. You may look at it in Amazon.com. [2]

Two Afsharid Scimitars

Swords or Scimitars
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 1736–1796.
Kept in Nadir Shah's Tomb, Mashhad, Iran
Source: [1]

شمشیر افشاری - موزه نادرشاه - مشهد

A scimitar is a sabre with a curved blade, originating in the Middle East. They have been made during Afsharid Period in Iran, and are kept in Nadir Shah's Tomb in Mashhad, Iran.

Afsharid and Qajar Pistols

Pistols
Era: Qajar and Afsharid Dynasties, Persia
Date: 18th and 19th Centuries
Kept in Nadir Shah's Tomb, Mashhad, Iran
Sources: [1],[2]

تپانچه دوره افشار و قاجار - موزه نادرشاه - مشهد

These pistols are kept in Nadir Shah's tomb. They were made during Afsharid and Qajar Dynasties. Since Safavid empire, Persians had mastered the art of gun making in order to survive against heavily armed Ottoman empire. Comparing to the European weapons, the Persian guns were some what less sophisticated.

Afsharid Cannon

Cannon
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 1736–1796.
Kept in Nadir Shah's Tomb, Mashhad, Iran
Sources: [1], [2]

توپ جنگی دوره افشار - موزه نادرشاه - مشهد

Nadir Shah had horse drawn wheeled artillery and camel mounted Zamburaks (swivel gun). Camel guns are sort of special, they were available in large numbers and fired 1-2 lb cannon balls. They were deployed for massed fire. They were however vulnerable to other artillery (Camels are huge). At the battle of Baghavard they crushed the Ottoman center after the Ottoman artillery had been captured by Nadir's infantry. They had the edge over larger guns in that they could be moved over areas with poorly conditioned roads.

By 1741, the number of cannons cast in Isfahan, combined with those that had been taken from India, reached five thousand. Still, the continually slow penetration of firearms into the Persian army is illustrated by the English traveler [3] Jonas Hanway’s description of Nāder’s regular forces.

Afsharid Firearms

Firearms
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 1736–1796.
Kept in Nadir Shah's Tomb, Mashhad, Iran.
Sources: [1], [2]

تفنگهای دوره افشار - موزه نادرشاه - مشهد

These are few guns made in Afsharid Period. Nadir Shah formed a powerful army out of the remains of the Safavid state. He succeeded in throwing out the Afghans while creating his new model army which grew in numbers and capability after each victory. His use of disciplined firearm equipped infantry routed the larger Afghan cavalry in battle after battle. Each battle saw him use his infantry more aggressively, initially they fought form behind cover while the cavalry smashed the Afghan flanks, while later his infantry fought more aggressively as their skills and confidence grew. This was a few years removed from the dismemberment of the poorly trained and internally divided Safavid army at the hands of the same Afghans.

Nadir Shah Afshar and His Court

Painting
Era: Unknown (Possibly Qajar)
Date: Possibly 19th Centuries
Materials and Technique: Oil on canvas
Size: 46.5 x 34 cm
Sold at Christie's auction, London
Sources: [1], [2]

The seller's website claims that this painting was created in 18th Century. But due to the form of faces, I think it was created long after Nadir's death or even long after Afsharid Dynasty ended sometime in 19th Century or even early 20th Century. It is unknown whether it was created in Iran or India.

The richly adorned Shah wears a black robe and leans back against a pearl-embroidered bolster cushion upon a jeweled carpet, court officials and attendants stand around him depicted on a smaller scale all wearing luxurious garments, behind the figures the two sides of a large red curtain are pulled back revealing a landscape, each character is identified in highly stylized gold script.

Afsharid Negotiation With the Mughal Nawab of Awadh

Painting
Era: Mughal Empire, India
Date: 19th Century
Materials and Technique: Color and gold on paper.
Size: H: 41.4 W: 54.7 cm
Kept in the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art, Washington DC, USA.
Sources: [1],[2],[3]

This painting shows the Persian officials negotiating with local a Mugual war lord, namely the Nawab of Awadh. This painting is most likely created during the Persian invasion of India. According to Wikipedia, Nawab is an honorific title ratified and bestowed by the reigning Mughal Emperor to semi-autonomous Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. "Nawab" usually refers to males; the female equivalent is "Begum" or "Nawab Begum". The primary duties of a Nawab was to uphold the sovereignty of the Mughal Emperor alongside with the administration of a certain province.

Silver Coin of Nadir Shah Afshar

Coin
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 1736-1747
Material: Silver
Weight: 11.51 grams
Kept in British Museum, London, UK
Source: [1]

Afshars (1736-1796) were a Persian Dynasty led by chieftain Nadir who was crowned Nadir Shah in 1736. This coin was minted in during his reign.

Gold Coin of Shahrukh Afshar

Coin
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 1755-1796
Material: Gold
Weight: 10.69 grams
Kept in British Museum
Source: [1]

This is a gold coin of Shahrukh Shah Afshar, (Persian: شاهرخ‎) who was the last king of the Afsharid Dynasty. In 1796, Agha Muhammad Khan Qajar conquered Khorasan and had Shahrukh tortured to death because he thought Shahrukh knew of Nadir's treasures.

Silver Coin of Shahrukh Afshar

Coin
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 1748-1749
Material: Silver
Weight: 22.34 grams
Kept in British Museum
Source: [1]

This is a silver coin of Shahrukh Shah Afshar, (Persian: شاهرخ‎) who was a king of the Afsharid dynasty and a contemporary of the Zand kings.

Indian Portrait of Nadir Shah Afshar

Painting
Era: Mughal Empire, India
Date: 18th Century
Materials and Technique: Gouache on paper
Dimensions: 26.4 x 19.3 cm
Kept in British Museum, London, England.
Source: [1]

نقاشی نادر شاه افشار - امپراتوری مغولان هند - موزه بریتانیا - انگلستان

Founder of short-lived Afsharid dynasty. Chieftain of the Turkmen Afshar tribe in north eastern Iran. Nadir Afshar restored the territorial integrity of Iran after the collapse of the Safavid dynasty and the Afghan invasion in 1722 (AH 1135). He served the ineffective Safavid ruler Tahmasp II, adopting the title 'slave of Tahmasp' (Tahmasp Quli). Nadir proclaimed himself Shah in 1736 and abandoned Twelver Shi'ism as the state religion of Iran. He is known for his successful Indian campaign of 1738-1739 which resulted in the Mughals giving up all provinces north and west of the Indus and paying enormous tribute. After a failed assassination attempt on him in 1741, he became cruel and unstable. Nadir was murdered by a group of Persian chiefs in 1746.

In the Battle of Karnal (February 13, 1739), which was a decisive victory for Nader Shah, the Shah's forces defeated the army of Muhammad Shah, the Indian emperor of the Mughal dynasty, in little more than three hours thus paving the way for the Persian sack of Delhi. The battle took place at Karnal, 110 kilometres (68 mi) north of Delhi, India. In this painting, you see the enthroned shah with five male attendants standing. The king seems to have a shaved head like three of attendants.

Portrait of Nadir Shah Afshar

Painting
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 1740 Circa
Artist: Probably Muhammad Riza Hindi
Materials and Techniques: Oil on canvas
Kept in Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England
Source: [1]

نقاشی نادر شاه - دوره افشار - موزه ویکتوریا و آلبرت - انگلستان

This painting is a portrait of Nadir Shah Afshar, one of the most important figures in Persian history of the last 300 years. Nadir Shah began as a tribal leader. He tried to use his forces to restore order after the Afghan invasion of his country in 1722. At first, he worked in the name of members of the previous dynasty, the Safavids. In 1736, however, he declared himself shah, and he ruled with some success until his assassination in 1747.

One of Nadir Shah's most famous achievements was the invasion of the Mughal empire in what is now Pakistan and northern India. He defeated the Mughal army in 1739 and seized the capital, Delhi. Among the loot he acquired was the Mughal emperor's jewels, which are still kept in the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran.

This is one of only two portraits of Nadir Shah in oils that survive. The Shah is shown wearing jeweled armbands, which are thought to be from the Mughal treasure. The carpet on which he sits is also Mughal. The painting is therefore attributed to the period after his invasion of the Mughal empire in 1739. There are some resemblances between this painting and watercolor portraits of Nadir Shah and a young man, probably Nadir Shah's son, by the painter Muhammad Riza Hindi.

Afsharid Swords

Swords
Era: Afsharid Dynasty, Persia
Date: 1736–1796.
Kept in Nadir Shah's Tomb, Mashhad, Iran
Source: [1]

There was not much information about these swords, but They belong to Afsharid Dynasty who were members of an Iranian dynasty of Turkic origin, from Khorasan, who ruled Persia in the 18th century. The dynasty was founded in 1736 by the military commander Nader Shah, who deposed the last member of the Safavid dynasty and proclaimed himself King of Iran. During Nader's reign, Iran reached its greatest extent since the Sassanid Empire. After his death, most of his empire was divided between the Zands and the Durranis, and Afsharid rule was confined to a small local state in Khorasan. Finally, the Afsharid dynasty was overthrown by Mohammad Khan Qajar in 1796.

Some related images: [2],[3],[4]

Helmet With Talismanic Inscriptions

Helmet
18th century, Persia (Iran)
Medium: Steel; damascened with gold
Dimensions: H. 24.8 cm. Diam. 19.1 cm.
Kept in Metropolitan Museum, New York, USA.
Source: [1], [2], [3]

کلاهخود مزین به دعا‌ و آیات قرآنی- قرن هجدهم میلادی

Although this helmet was a serviceable military object, it was probably used as an accessory of a parade armour. Forged from watered steel and damascened in gold with talismanic inscriptions, it contains an invocation to 'Ali, the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet, and calls upon him for protection against harm and danger. The verses are distinctly Shi'i, and commonly found on objects from the Timurid through the Qajar periods in Iran and Central Asia.