Portrait of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan - William Bond

A refined stipple engraving by William Bond, depicting the Persian scholar Mirza Abu Taleb Khan in a formal portrait based on a painting by James Northcote.

This stipple engraving by William Bond depicts Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, an influential Persian scholar and traveller who visited Britain at the turn of the nineteenth century. The print is based on an original painting by James Northcote, whose signature appears in the lower margin alongside Bond's own. The portrait captures the subject in a three-quarter view, dressed in traditional attire including a turban and a sash, with a sword held at his side. The technical execution relies on the stipple method, which uses small dots to create subtle gradations of tone and texture, particularly visible in the soft modelling of the face and the fabric of the clothing.

Mirza Abu Taleb Khan gained recognition for his travelogue, 'Masir-i Talibi fi Bilad-i Afranji', which provided a detailed account of European society from an Eastern perspective. This portrait reflects the period's interest in documenting figures from abroad who engaged with the British intellectual and social spheres. The composition is formal, typical of early nineteenth-century portraiture, with a draped curtain in the background providing a sense of depth and gravitas. The engraving serves as a record of the cultural exchange between India, Persia, and Britain during the colonial era. The fine lines and controlled shading demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship required for stipple engraving, a technique that was popular for reproducing paintings in print form during this era. The work remains a valuable historical document, offering a visual representation of a man whose writings offered a unique critique of the Western world.