Juriaen Ambdis was a 17th-century Dutch ship's gunner and painter. In 1648 he took service as gunner in the army of Safavid King (Shah) Abbas II (r. 1642-1666).[1][2] He participated in the successful Siege of Kandahar during the Mughal–Safavid war (1649–53).[2] After the siege, Ambdis and all other Dutchmen were discharged from service.[2] However, unlike his fellow kinsmen, Ambdis decided to stay in Safavid Iran, reportedly eager to work as an artist.[2] His decision was inspired by the extremely high salaries paid by the Safavids to Hendrick Boudewijn van Lockhorst, another Dutch painter.[2] However, unlike Van Lockhorst, Ambdis was unsuccessful in making a name for himself, and almost fell into beggary.[2] On 29 March 1649, an Iranian merchant had spotted Ambdis walking alone behind a caravan in Ottoman-held Iraq, and had given him bread.[2] On 22 May 1650, it was reported that Ambdis had converted to Islam in Baghdad.[2] Ambdis subsequently disappears from historic records; he died sometime after 1650.[3]
