English school; 19th century.

English school; XIX century.
"Portrait of His Highness Sayyid Majid, First Sultan of Zanzibar",1864.
Gouache and watercolor on paper glued to cardboard.
Presents date and illegible signature in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 20 x 14.5 x 25 x 19.5 cm (frame).
Watercolor dated 1864 representing Sayyid Majid of Zanzibar, the first independent sultan of the island.
Majid was the son of Sayyid Said bin Sultan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman, who had established his capital in Zanzibar in 1840.
After his father's death in 1856, the empire was divided among his sons: Majid took control of Zanzibar, while his older brother, Sayyid Thuwaini, inherited the rule of Muscat and Oman. Majid ruled Zanzibar from 1850 until his death in 1870, consolidating his power over the island's thriving economy, based on the slave and spice trade, particularly cloves. In the watercolor, the sultan sits in a richly carved chair, wearing an intricate headdress and sandals, with a floral carpet at his feet. In the background, a curtain is seen in suggestive shadow. Sayyid Majid belonged to the Al Bu Sa'id dynasty, originally from Oman, which expanded its influence across the Indian Ocean during the 18th and 19th centuries. Zanzibar became an important trading center between Africa, the Middle East and India during Majid's reign. The Al Bu Sa'id dynasty continues to rule Oman today. Link to British influence: The British had long-standing diplomatic and commercial ties with Zanzibar, due to their interests in East African trade. Although there is no direct evidence that an English artist created this watercolor, it is possible that the work was inspired by European, particularly British, artistic trends. Many British artists and illustrators depicted scenes from the distant territories of the Empire. In the watercolor, the sultan sits on a richly carved chair, wearing an intricate headdress and sandals, with a floral carpet at his feet. In the background, casting a suggestive shadow, are a curtain, columns and a vase of flowers, adding depth and a regal atmosphere to the scene. At the sultan's feet rest a sword and its scabbard. The watercolor features an Arabic inscription on the right and a barely legible signature, probably Anders or a similar name.
Compared to the engraving published the same year (1864) in the magazine Le Tour du Monde, this work is distinguished by the addition of details absent in the printed version, such as the curtain, the columns and the flowers.
The presence of the Arabic inscription and signature suggests that the work may have been intended for a different audience, perhaps circulating outside Europe, especially in Zanzibar. The date inscribed on the watercolor matches the publication date of the print, but additional details suggest a personalized or later version.