SAEDNEWS: Here, you can view high-quality images of three royal gatherings during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah — from a leisurely outing outside the city to the most extravagant wedding of the period. (The original photos were black and white and have been colorized using software.)
According to the History and Culture Service of SaedNews, citing Faradid, here are three rarely seen photos from the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, which vividly depict the atmosphere of court parties and gatherings. All three photos were taken by Antoine Sevruguin, the famous photographer of the Qajar era.
The first photo was most likely taken during one of the Shah’s short trips around Tehran. In this image, the Shah himself is seated on a chair, looking at the camera. The child standing to the right of the Shah is Aziz al-Sultan, also known as Malijak II.
In this picture, courtiers and palace cooks are preparing the food. Some are peeling eggplants, while other ingredients have been placed on trays, ready to be added to the cooking pots.
The second photo does not have detailed explanations, but it is clear that it was taken at the moment the Shah entered a hall, which appears to have been prepared for a type of court banquet or gathering.
The person standing to the right of the Shah, holding a cane, is Ali Asghar Khan Amin al-Sultan, who held the position of Grand Vizier during the last ten years of the Shah’s reign. On the left of the Shah stands Kamran Mirza, the Shah’s third son, who, according to historians, had many disputes with Amin al-Sultan. Mirza Reza Kermani cited the oppression and injustices of Kamran Mirza’s associates as one of the reasons for Naser al-Din Shah’s assassination.
The third photo, in which the Shah himself is not present, shows some of the guests attending the wedding of Aziz al-Sultan (Malijak II) and Akhtar al-Dowleh, the Shah’s daughter.
This ceremony was considered one of the most extravagant and luxurious weddings of its time. The photo was taken at the Baharestan Mansion, which after the Constitutional Revolution was used as the building for the National Consultative Assembly.
