Pasini was one of the most highly acclaimed orientalist painters working in Paris in the second half of the Nineteenth century. In 1855 the... Show morePasini was one of the most highly acclaimed orientalist painters working in Paris in the second half of the Nineteenth century. In 1855 the opportunity to travel to Arabia arose. At the height of the Crimean war, in an effort to counteract Russian influence in Persia, the diplomat Prosper Bourré led an official French mission to the court of Nasser al-Din Shah in Tehran. The written account was to be prepared by Joseph-Arthur, Comte de Gobineau (1816-1882); Pasini was invited on the journey to make the visual record. The mission crossed to Alexandria from Marseilles and embarked at Suez on the East Indiaman Victoria bound for Bushire. They put in at Jeddah (where they met Kemal Pasha, Guardian of the Holy Shrines at Mecca and Medina), then Aden, and Muscat (where they had an audience with the Sultan, Syed Said), before crossing the Gulf. From Bushire they travelled north to Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tehran. Pasini remained at the Shah's court, before returning to Paris in 1856. In 1859 Pasini published this album as pictorial record of the mission. Gobineau published his written account in the same year: Trois ans en Asie, de 1855 à 1858 (Paris: 1859. 8vo). Title from item, date devised by Library staff. Main Heritage Compact General HC.GM.04139 2-D Graphic Item-ID: i15961928 BIB-ID: 1025507 Show less
