Abu al-Hasan was the son of Aqa Reza Heravi of Herat in Safavid Iran, a city with an artistic tradition.

Aqa Reza was established as an artist and took up employment with Jahangir (r. 1605 –1627) before the latter's accession to the throne of the Mughal empire.

[1] When Abu al-Hasan began producing art, the emperor, Jahangir, appreciated the skills of the boy.

[4] Abu al-Hasan's main task was the documentation of events at the imperial court, which resulted in many portraits being completed.

[1] However, when Jahangir's reign came to an end, and Shah Jahan began his rule, Abu al-Hasan's career became less active until 1628 from which point on, there is no evidence of him producing art.