 In 1890 , the Queen had Karim 's portrait painted by Heinrich von Angeli . According to the Queen , von Angeli was keen to paint Karim as he had never painted an Indian before and " was so struck with his handsome face and colouring " . On 11 July 1890 , she wrote to Lansdowne , and the Secretary of State for India Lord Cross , for " a grant of land to her really exemplary and excellent young Munshi , Hafiz Abdul Karim " . The ageing Queen did not trust her relatives and the Royal Household to look after the Munshi after she was gone , and so sought to secure his future . Lansdowne replied that grants of land were given only to soldiers , and then only in cases of long and meritorious service . Nevertheless , the Viceroy agreed to find a grant for Karim that would provide about 600 rupees annually , the same amount that an old soldier could expect after performing exceptionally . Victoria wrote to Lansdowne repeatedly between July and October , pressuring him on the land grant . Apart from wasteland , there was little government @-@ controlled land near Agra ; thus Lansdowne was having trouble finding a suitable plot . On 30 October , the Munshi left Balmoral for four months ' leave in India , travelling on the same ship as Lady Lansdowne . On the same day , Lord Lansdowne telegraphed the Queen to let her know that a grant of land in the suburbs of Agra had been arranged . Lansdowne made a point of informing the Queen : 
