Ali Khan Vali
Encyclopedia
Ali Khan Vali the Governor' علی خان والی was a notable 19th-century Iran
ian photographer. He is best known for his photograph album http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:1125271 documenting his career as governor at various places in Azerbaijan
(Northwest Persia) between 1879 and 1896.
and governor. Ali Khan was born in Tehran
in 1845 or 1846. The most important event in his young life occurred when he accompanied his father to St. Petersburg in 1855 for several years. During that time, he studied and learned photography.
In 1277 AH
/1860-61 CE, his father left his post, and father and son traveled throughout Europe
. In 1278 / 1861-62, his father was posted to the northern (Caspian) province of Gilan as governor. His father was released from that post in 1285 / 1868-69, at a time when Ali Khan was a special attendant at a royal tour of the northern provinces. In 1287 / 1870-71, Ali Khan was one of the courtier
s who accompanied Nasser al-Din Shah
on a tour of the Shi'ite shrine
s in Ottoman-governed Iraq
, including Najaf
, Karbala
, and al-Kadhimiyya.
In 1288 / 1871-72, Ali Khan's father was given the post of governor of Fars, while Ali Khan stayed at the court in Tehran, evidently a member of the entourage of the heir to the throne, Muzaffar al-Din. In 1289 / 1872-73, his father died, and his older brother took over as governor of Fars.
In 1296 / 1879, while still in the entourage of Muzaffer al-Din, there were disturbances in Azerbaijan, and Ali Khan received the post of governor of Maragha. He was one of several individuals to receive new posts in Azerbaijan at that time. This was the first of a series of posts he was to hold in that region, including mayor (Hakim) of Tabriz
, the principal city. He illustrated his reports to the central administration in Tehran with photographs, which was an innovation encouraged by Nasser al-Din Shah, but readily accommodated by Ali Khan Vali due to his personal interests.
He died in 1902, evidently in Tehran, and was buried at Qum.
Although the earliest photographs in the album are portraits of Nasser al-Din Shah, taken in 1279 /1862-3, the rest of the photographs apparently date from Ali Khan's 1879 posting to Maragha, and the following years. The last date in the text is 1313/1895-96; however, photographs far from the end of the sequence show a coffin for a Christian with the death date of 1897, and the album appears to continues up to 1899 or 1900.
Ali Khan Vali's photograph album http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:1125271 documenting his career as governor at various places in Azerbaijan (Northwest Persia) between 1879 and 1896, is of virtually unprecedented quality and character. Ali Khan's album contains 1,412 photographs on 439 pages, commencing with photos of devotional representations of Shi'ite saints, and of Nasser al-Din Shah, the reigning monarch. It then proceeds to document Ali Khan, his family, and all those persons and places he encountered during his career as governor. The photographs are captioned in almost all cases. Moreover, page after page is covered with a continuous narrative of his career, written around the photographs.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian photographer. He is best known for his photograph album http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:1125271 documenting his career as governor at various places in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
(Northwest Persia) between 1879 and 1896.
Biography and career
He was a member of a distinguished Qajar family, his father having had a long career as diplomatDiplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and governor. Ali Khan was born in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in 1845 or 1846. The most important event in his young life occurred when he accompanied his father to St. Petersburg in 1855 for several years. During that time, he studied and learned photography.
In 1277 AH
Hijri year
The Hijri year is year numbering system used in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the Hijra , or emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 CE. In Arabic, AH is symbolized by the letter هـ...
/1860-61 CE, his father left his post, and father and son traveled throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In 1278 / 1861-62, his father was posted to the northern (Caspian) province of Gilan as governor. His father was released from that post in 1285 / 1868-69, at a time when Ali Khan was a special attendant at a royal tour of the northern provinces. In 1287 / 1870-71, Ali Khan was one of the courtier
Courtier
A courtier is a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
s who accompanied Nasser al-Din Shah
Nasser al-Din Shah
Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar was the King of Iran from September 17, 1848 to May 1, 1896 when he was assassinated. He was the son of Mohammad Shah Qajar and Malek Jahan Khanom, Mahd-e Olia and the third longest reigning monarch king in Iranian history after Shapur II of the Sassanid Dynasty and...
on a tour of the Shi'ite shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
s in Ottoman-governed Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, including Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
, Karbala
Karbala
Karbala is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorate, and has an estimated population of 572,300 people ....
, and al-Kadhimiyya.
In 1288 / 1871-72, Ali Khan's father was given the post of governor of Fars, while Ali Khan stayed at the court in Tehran, evidently a member of the entourage of the heir to the throne, Muzaffar al-Din. In 1289 / 1872-73, his father died, and his older brother took over as governor of Fars.
In 1296 / 1879, while still in the entourage of Muzaffer al-Din, there were disturbances in Azerbaijan, and Ali Khan received the post of governor of Maragha. He was one of several individuals to receive new posts in Azerbaijan at that time. This was the first of a series of posts he was to hold in that region, including mayor (Hakim) of Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, the principal city. He illustrated his reports to the central administration in Tehran with photographs, which was an innovation encouraged by Nasser al-Din Shah, but readily accommodated by Ali Khan Vali due to his personal interests.
He died in 1902, evidently in Tehran, and was buried at Qum.
Photographic works
Ali Khan Vali learned camera work in St. Petersburg as a boy, but early photographs have either they not survived or remain undiscovered. The photographs in his well-known album date from the time when Ali Khan was 33 years of age.Although the earliest photographs in the album are portraits of Nasser al-Din Shah, taken in 1279 /1862-3, the rest of the photographs apparently date from Ali Khan's 1879 posting to Maragha, and the following years. The last date in the text is 1313/1895-96; however, photographs far from the end of the sequence show a coffin for a Christian with the death date of 1897, and the album appears to continues up to 1899 or 1900.
Ali Khan Vali's photograph album http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:1125271 documenting his career as governor at various places in Azerbaijan (Northwest Persia) between 1879 and 1896, is of virtually unprecedented quality and character. Ali Khan's album contains 1,412 photographs on 439 pages, commencing with photos of devotional representations of Shi'ite saints, and of Nasser al-Din Shah, the reigning monarch. It then proceeds to document Ali Khan, his family, and all those persons and places he encountered during his career as governor. The photographs are captioned in almost all cases. Moreover, page after page is covered with a continuous narrative of his career, written around the photographs.