Portrait of Sarkhan Beg the Table-steward
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Gouache |
| Current Location: | The British Museum, London, United Kingdom |
| Location History: | Created originally in the royal Safavid capital of Tabriz (modern-day Northwestern Iran). It was later mounted into a detached album leaf (muraqqa) along with other works by master painters before eventually being acquired by the British Museum in 1930. |
Portrait of Sarkhan Beg the Table-steward is a celebrated Safavid Persian miniature painting by Mir Musavvir, created around 1530 in Tabriz during the reign of Shah Tahmasp I. The artwork portrays Sarkhan Beg, an important court official responsible for supervising royal banquets and dining arrangements. The portrait is regarded as one of the finest examples of Safavid album painting (muraqqa). Sarkhan Beg is shown standing elegantly against a delicate floral background, dressed in richly ornamented robes, an elaborate turban, and a jeweled belt. He gently holds a flower in one hand while the other rests near his ceremonial dagger, emphasizing refinement, courtly etiquette, and aristocratic dignity. The painting demonstrates Mir Musavvir’s exceptional precision in rendering textiles, jewelry, and facial features, hallmarks of the Tabriz School of Persian painting. The painting is currently housed in the British Museum.