Lot 322: A RARE PORTRAIT PAINTING DEPICTING THE IRAQI KING IN MILITARY UNIFORM, 20TH CENTURY

A rare oil on board portrait painting depicting the Iraqi King, shown in a formal mid-20th-century military uniform. The subject is portrayed at bust-length, wearing an olive-drab tunic featuring three-star gold-toned epaulettes, a multi-coloured ribbon bar, and gold-toned pilot’s wings above the left breast pocket. The portrait is executed in a realist style against a dark tonal background. The work is housed in a deeply carved and ornate gilt-wood frame. The top of the frame features a prominent crest depicting the royal coat of arms with a central shield bearing a crescent and three stars supported by two lions and surmounted by a royal crown. A signature in red paint is located in the lower right corner of the board.