Malaysian Royal Portraits

S.P.B. Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni

Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail.

-Perlis.

( 13.12. 2001 –

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

Malaysia is unique because she is the only nation in this world which has a five years rotation system in her Kingship. Nazri had recorded all the Royal portraits for the county's historical archive. Not many have the chance to see these paintings as they are hung and kept in various palaces.

In addition to the Royal Selangor portraits commissioned he also had painted 14 portraits of DYMM YDP Agong from first to present plus two portraits of Permaisuri Agong, for Istana Melawati, Putrajaya. In mid 2005 he managed to deliver all the portraits commissioned on time. 

S.P.B. Al-Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Alhaj 

ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Alhaj.

-Selangor.

(26.4.1999  -  21.11.2001)

          Istana  Melawati Putrajaya.  

S.P.B. Al-Marhum Tuanku Ja'afar ibni

 Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

-Negeri Sembilan. 

(26.4.1994  -  25.4.1999)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

S.P.B. Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah

ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah.  

-Perak.

(26.4,1989  -  25.4.1994)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

S.P.B. Sultan Iskandar

ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Sir Ismail.

-Johor.

(26.4.1984  -  25.4.1989)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

As a royal painter Nazri hardly have much time to spare. He was so worry that he could not deliver his works on time. That was why he was constantly living under pressure and always stressed up. 

S.P.B. Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah

 Al-Musta'in Billah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri'Ayatuddin Al-Mu'Adzam Shah.

-Pahang

(26.4.1979  -  25.4.1984)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

S.P.B. Al-Marhum Tuanku Yahya Petra ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Ibrahim.

-Kelantan.

(21.9.1975  -  29.3.1979)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

S.P.B. Al-Sultan Almu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbudin 

Tuanku AlHaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah ibni

Al-Marhum Sultan Badlishah.

-Kedah.

(21.9.1970  -  20.9.1975)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

S.P.B. Al-Marhum Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah 

ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Zainal Abidin.

-Terengganu.

(21.9.1965  -  20.9.1970)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

S.P.B. Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra 

ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail.

- Perlis.

(21.9.1960  -  20.9.1965).

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

When he had to meet someone outside his house he seemed very nervous and always in a hurry. The only occasion he looked a bit relax was when he attended opening of other artist’s shows which he never failed to attend.

S.P.B. Al-Marhum Tuanku Hisamuddin Alam Shah 

ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Alaiddin Sulaiman Shah.

- Selangor.

(14.4.1960  -  01.9,1960)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

S.P.B. Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman 

ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Muhaounad.

-Negeri Sembilan,

(31.8.1957  -  01.4.1960)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

the most acclaimed portraitist in Malaysia

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah AlHaj.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Alam Shah.

Noted for his technical virtuosity and painterly technique, Nazri is recognized as the most acclaimed portraitist in Malaysia, and his clientele consists of the Royal Courts and some of the most affluent and influential figures in the region. 

DYMMSultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah AlHaj.

Coronation portrait.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Mestika

.

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah AlHaj. Detail coronation portrait.

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah AlHaj.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Alam Shah.

Selangor Royal Portraits Commission

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah AlHaj.

Chancellor University Putra.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Mestika.

From 2002 until 2003, Nazri had completed seven more new portrait commissioned by DYMM Sultan Selangor, plus restoration and alterations to several existing portraits for the Balai Santapan Diraja, Istana Alam Shah included four new portraits for Istana Mestika. Up until 2004 Nazri was busy working on further portrait commissions consisted of two new portraits, plus restoration and alterations to existing four portraits for the Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor. Two new portraits plus further restoration work to existing portraits for DYMM Sultan Selangor. 

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah AlHaj.

Pro-Chancellor UiTM.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Mestika.

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah AlHaj.

Captain in Chief Royal Malaysian Navy.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Mestika.

A Modern Day Old Master

SPB Al-Marhum Tuanku Ja'afar ibni

 Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

-Negeri Sembilan. 

(26.4.1994  -  25.4.1999)

Istana Melawati, Putrajaya.

Nazri’s ability to converse fluently in Malay language or Bahasa Malaysia made him won many friends from ordinary walks of life and clients from the private sectors. He assimilates well with the Malaysian culture. As a matter of fact he had converted to Islam since in the sixties in Johor. 

Puan Sri Lea Hamdan. 54”X36”. Personal collection.

Kai Neilsen. 24”X30”. Personal collection.

Javanese Man. 54”X36”. Personal collection

Nazri and the Royal families

As a Royal Painter Nazri has established that special kind of relationship between an artist and the royal families which is rare to find in Malaysia.

Way back in the late sixties he was working across the causeway in Singapore and he started to get acquainted with the Johor royal family. The king of Johor at the time was Al-Marhum Sultan Sir Ismail ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Sir Ibrahim. He had commissioned Nazri to paint two state portraits of him and his wife Sultanah of Johor.

Al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Samad.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Alam Shah.

In 1978 Nazri was entrusted to undertake portrait commission works for Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor, featuring four Sultans - from Sultan Abdul Samad to Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz, Shah AlHaj. 

Al-Marhum Sultan Ala'eddin Sulaiman Shah.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Alam Shah.

Al-Marhum Sultan Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah .

7' x 4' oils on canvas (detail).

Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor.

Al-Marhumah Tengku Ampuan Jema'ah

DYMM Permaisuri Agong II.

54" x 40" oils on canvas.

Istana Alam Shah.

Al-Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah AlHaj.

Formal evening dress.

7' x 4' oils on canvas.

Istana Alam Shah.

Followed by further portrait commissions for Federal Parliament from 1979 until 1983; consisted of 24 portraits of D.Y.M.M. Y.D.P. Agong, Prime Ministers, Speakers of parliament and presidents of the senate. He accomplished the project successfully and the Sultan was very pleased with Nazri's works. 

Twice he was awarded with medals, one pingat SIS or Setia Idris Shah Medal from the present Sultan of Selangor.

Al-Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah AlHaj.

Informal Portrait.

30" x 40" oils on canvas (detail).

Istana Darul Ehsan.

The other medal was a Pingat Jaksa Kebaktian or PJK Medal awarded by the late 

Al-Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah AlHaj of Selangor, in recognition to his many portrait paintings for the royal family and the the Dewan Undangan Negeri.

 

From 1999 until 2001 Nazri was busy with various projects inclusive of portrait commissions of Dato' Sri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for  Kementerian Luar Negara, portrait of KFC chairman, three portraits for Tristan and Joan Russell the owner of  Boh Tea plantation and industry.

         During the same period he also managed to complete portrait of Raja Muda

Selangor then was a Pemangku Sultan Selangor.

 

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah AlHaj.

Informal portrait.

24" x 30" oils on canvas.

Istana Mestika.

A story of a Royal Painter

This Blog is dedicated to a Royal Painter of Selangor, who is my best friend, my mentor and my ex-lecturer. At the moment he is very ill.

Ahmad Nazri Abdullah 

was born in December 1937 

in Melbourne to Australian parents with Scottish, English 

and Afghani lineage, Ahmad Nazri Abdullah received his 

first formal art education at Swinburne Technical College in 

1953 at the tender age of 15.

    

Then he sporadically dabbled with the advertising 

industry between 1959 and 1974 and his last position was 

regional creative director for Marklin Advertising 

and was responsible for creative output for Kuala Lumpur, 

Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok offices. 

Tired of 'living out of a suitcase' 

and coupled with his pursuit for his first love, painting.

 

In 1974 Nazri started his painting career full time 

while being a full time academician at ITM Shah Alam.

Al-Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah AlHaj. 50" x 36" oils on canvas. Istana Selangor

  

In 1978 he was appointed by His Royal  Highness 

Al-Marhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah AlHaj, 

Sultan of Selangor as Pelukis Diraja Selangor, 

an appointment that he proudly carries 

until today.