Portrait of Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan

Over the summer of 2018, the painter, Nan “Majida” Hill, created this portrait of the WWII heroine and daughter of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan. The portrait now hangs in the Inayati Order’s North American Headquarters, called the Astana, in Richmond, Virginia. Please continue reading to learn more about the artist and the story behind the portrait.

Limited edition prints are available via the Inayati Order’s Online Store by clicking here.

Artist Biography

Nan Hill lives and paints in Massachusetts. Over the last 30 years, she has had solo and group shows throughout the United States, including in Boston, New York, Santa Fe, and Northampton. Hill specializes in still life and portraiture and has completed numerous prestigious and public commissions, including official retirement portraits of a First Justice of the court and several university professors, and most recently, an equestrienne portrait of WWII British spy heroine, Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan. Hill’s paintings are in the collections of Fidelity Investments, Citibank, actor Matt Damon, Neil and Jane Pappalardo, and Northampton Family & Probate Court, among many others. She attended Smith College and studied painting at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Artist Statement

In spring of 2018, Roshan Peay, Chair of the Inayat Order’s Board of Trustees, contacted me about the commission of a portrait of Pirzadi-Shahida Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan which was intended for the Meditation Room of the Astana, the Inayati Order’s North American Headquarters, in Richmond, Virginia. Having been Suluk Academy classmates, Roshan knew of my active painting career and did me the honor of recommending me for this portrait.

Roshan shared that Pir Zia had a vision of Noor, one based on Noor’s words to her sister during WWII. Noor said, “When the war is over, I shall be wearing the family tartan on horseback.” Her loving nephew, Pir Zia, further envisioned her in classical equestrian portrait style on a rearing horse, wearing the uniform and hat of her official WAAF photograph, with her lavender tartan sash in the air.

We began to work together to interpret these visions, in colors that would be harmonious with the Meditation Hall’s interior décor. I undertook research to immerse myself in Noor’s incredible life story, and as the concept of her portrait progressed, some remarkable things occurred.

I hired a horse model through a riding school and serendipitously the horse turned out to be a white baroque mare, a group of breeds used for royal and classical portraits – a breed more suitable for princesses and legends of great courage could not possibly be found. Furthermore, the model horse was a Lippizaner, descended from a group of very special baroque breed horses rescued from the Nazis by General Patton during WWII.

There exist a number of photograph portraits of Noor, but something new needed to be painted since the vision of the painting was post-war. I was most struck by how Noor took the opportunity to serve, as did countless women, during WWII. During a culture of female oppression, the war allowed many women to rise to greater powers of action and capabilities.

Although she was a woman of delicate beauty, Noor proved to possess depthless courage and bravery. She became a very powerful enemy of the Reich, resulting from her fierce defense of freedom after finding her inner core of steel.

At a point, while working on the portrait, I became nearly submerged in grief thinking about the loss of Noor and the immeasurable devastations of WWII. My Sufi spiritual guide had given me a book in which I found a joyful poem about butterflies written by Noor. A few days after reading this poem, I was visited by the most extraordinary pale blue butterfly which appeared lit from within, like an illuminated candle. I discovered it was a Summer Azure butterfly which lives only for a few days yet brings joy and ineffable beauty of its existence to remember always. Noor knew that we find great gifts in small instances like the admiring of butterflies.

Noor’s portrait creation process involved many people and felt very blessed. Noor’s spirit, and the inspiration we receive from her extraordinary life, her creative gifts, and her great service will always emanate a mystical and sacred quality as we contemplate her in whatever form.

Nan “Majida” Hill

September 16, 2018

***

The Butterflies
By Noorunnisa Inayat Khan 1929

Little dancers in the air,

As gracious as can be,

With your colored wings so fair,

Dance, O dance to me.

When the sun is nicely smiling,

On the golden glowing hill,

When the dainty birds are singing,

Butterflies, then show your skill.

When the sun is going to bed,

In its nightgown red, so red,

When the tiny flowers close,

Butterflies, then take repose.

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