Abu'l-Hasan Sani al-Mulk

Abu'l-Hasan Khan Ghaffari Kashani (1814–1866) (Persian: ابوالحسن غفاری), also known as Sani ol Molk (Persian: صنیع‌الملک) was an Iranian painter, miniature and lacquer artist and book illustrator.^[1]^[2]

Life and work

In 1829 he became a pupil of Mihr 'Ali, the best of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar's court painters.^[2] His 1842 portrait of Mohammad Shah Qajar secured him a position at the court.^[2] He spent the years between 1846 and 1850 in Italy, studying the works of Italian masters.^[2] Upon his return to Persia, he was appointed naqqāšbāšī (chief painter) of the court and became involved with the newly established Dar ul-Funun, the first modern institution of higher learning in Iran.^[2] In 1853, he supervised a team of 34 painters in creating 1,134 pages of miniature illustrations for a Persian edition of One Thousand and One Nights, now housed at the Golestan Palace library.^[2] In his last years he assumed more administrative responsibilities, editing government periodicals and supervising printing establishments in the country.^[2] In 1861, he received the title Sani ol Molk, by which he is commonly known.^[2]

He was the uncle of Mohammad Ghaffari (Kamal ol molk), a court painter during the reign of Nasser ad-Din Shah.^[3]

Image gallery

Portrait of Mohammad Shah Qajar, 1841
Two young lovers and a hairdresser. 1843, oil painting, Golestan Palace
Portrait of Ardashir Mirza. 1853
Portrait of Ardashir Mirza. 1854, guache on paper.
Portrait of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. 1854, miniature, Louvre
Portrait of Mostofi ol Mamalek, 1860s, miniature, Malik National Museum of Iran
Portrait of a Qajar man
Portrait of Haji Mirza Aghasi
Portrait of Aqa Ismail

Illustrations of One Thousand and One Nights

Miniature illustrations of a Persian version of One Thousand and One Nights, created by Sani ol Molk and other artists under his supervision. 1853, Golestan Palace library.