Turkoman or Mongol Chief holding an Arrow

Painted in 1591-92, "Turkoman or Mongol Chief holding an Arrow" is one of several versions of a portrait of Uzbek Murad Akkuyunlu, rendered by Aqa Riza Haravi, a Persian artist at the Mughal court of Jahangir in India. Aqa Riza Haravi was a prominent Persian Miniature and court painter. His work uses delicate pale washes and rich watercolours with gold on paper. His paintings reflect the influence of idealised European realism, modelling, and looser brushstrokes, which were prevalent in the Mughal court. Preserved in the Large Clive Album, the painting portrays a portrait of Uzbek Murad Akkuyunlu as identified by F. R. Martin. Murad Akkuyunlu was defeated and was later imprisoned by Shah Ismail, who was the first shah of Safavid Iran from 1501 to 1524. Although many portraits of Sultan Murad depict him in capture or defeat, Aqa Riza Haravi's portrait seems to show him in good stature and posture. The portrait uses vibrant tones of green, yellow, and purple for the subject's clothing. Akkuyunlun is shown kneeling, with an archery set tied around his waist with a cloth waist belt. The figure's drooping eyes suggest the subject's old age or exhaustion. Aqa Riza still seems to restore dignity to the defeated figure belonging to history by painting a turban on him and showing the male subject as someone who is still working on his warrior skills through archery.