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.
Gholam Ali Khan was the son of Mirza Mohammad Khan, known as Malijak I, who was a favored page of the Shah. His maternal aunt, Amina Aqdas, was another of the Shah’s favored wives. The Shah’s affection for Gholam Ali Khan began during his visits to Amina Aqdas, leading to the boy being introduced to the royal court. His charm and demeanor quickly endeared him to Naser al-Din Shah, who bestowed upon him the title Aziz al-Soltan, meaning “The King’s Darling”.
