Portrait of Mirza Abul Hasan

He was the first diplomatic envoy sent to the country since the seventeenth century. He was well received by high society and attracted interest in the press. The painting was commissioned by Sir Gore Ouseley who had been appointed as the ambassador's guide during his stay on Britain.^[2] He had a distinguished career in the diplomatic service and returned again to England on another mission. In 1824 he was appointed Persia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Lawrence, a future President of the Royal Academy, was a leading portraitist when he received the commission. He had a relatively short time-span to work due to the ambassador's imminent departure. Lawrence was unused to painting beards, as the Regency era fashion was for clean-shaven faces. He also had to portray the sitter's turban and ornamental dagger.^[3] A full-length painting of the ambassador by William Beechey was also produced.^[4]

Today the Lawrence portrait is part of the collection at Harvard Art Museums.^[5]

• Holmes, Richard. Thomas Lawrence Portraits. National Portrait Gallery, 2010.
• Levey, Michael. Sir Thomas Lawrence. Yale University Press, 2005.