The young, precocious boy pictured in this photograph by Sevruguin has been tentatively identified as Malijak Aziz al-Sultan, known historically as the passive object of Nasir al-Din Shah’s desire. It has also been suggested that he could be Ahmad Shah, the last ruler of the Qajar dynasty (r. 1909–1925). No matter what the true identity of the subject, this portrait shows Sevruguin’s skill in capturing and portraying human personalities rather than stock image types.
Despite his favored status, Aziz al-Soltan’s presence at court was met with mixed reactions. Some courtiers and officials viewed the Shah’s favoritism as excessive and inappropriate. For instance, Mirza Ali Khan Amin al-Dawla remarked that Aziz al-Soltan was “the essence of dirt and the extract of filth and putridity,” reflecting the disdain some felt towards his close relationship with the Shah.
