Portrait of the Princess of Zanzibar and an African Lady-in-waiting

By Walter Frier

This canvas is to be sold at Sotheby’s in London on December 7th 2017.

In 1628, Captain John Henderson of Fordell, who had been travelling through Africa for many years, was captured by Barbarians and taken to the island of Zanzibar, where a Moorish king reigned. The king’s daughter fell madly in love with him. Out of love, she renounced not only her religion but also her country and helped Captain John Anderson of Fordell escape on a ship sailing for the Red Sea.
They reached Alexandria, where he had time to have this portrait painted before the Princess, alas, suddenly passed away.


by  Prince Michael of Greece