The Emperor Bahadur Shah I enthroned, attributable to Bhavanidas, Mughal, circa 1707

gouache heightened with gold on paper

Warren Hastings (1732-1818), Governor-General of India (1774-85)
John Rushout, 2nd Earl of Northwick (1770-1859)
By descent to Captain Edward George Spencer-Churchill (1876-1964), Northwick Park, Gloucestershire
Sotheby's, London, 21 November 1928, lot 105
Prof R.A. Dara, London (d.1966)
Acquired in 1965

In the Image of Man, Hayward Gallery, London, 1982

London 1982-I, p.133, no.129
Leach 1983, pp.39 & 41, no.20
Leach 1995, vol.1, p.489, no.4.7, footnote 5 (should read [London] 1982, not 1985)
Beach and Koch 1997, p.125, fig.21
Andrews 1999 (PhD thesis)

In good overall condition, colours vivid and gold bright, a few very minor stains and light abrasions to surface, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This miniature is an important example of Mughal ceremonial court art in the early eighteenth century. It was probably painted as an accession portrait and depicts the Emperor Bahadur Shah I (r.1707-12) receiving his four sons while seated on the Peacock Throne. It is attributable to Bhavanidas, the leading artist at the Mughal court at this time, who later moved to Kishangarh, where his style became considerably less formal (for examples of his Kishangarh work in this catalogue, see lots 54, 55, 56 and 58). The present miniature is attributable to his Mughal period, of which fewer examples survive than from his Kishangarh period. His Mughal style is characterised by a rather formal adherence to the compositional structure and stylistic canons of earlier Mughal painting (for example, those in the Windsor Padshahnama), as well as a skilful attention to detail that was in keeping with the best traditions of his artistic forbears. Several other painting from his Delhi period are of related subjects - royal durbars or princely gatherings - and the present example is the most directly imperial in its imagery, showing Bahadur Shah holding an orb in his hand in the exact tradition of the earlier Mughal emperors Akbar and Jahangir (for examples see Okada 1992, p.29, fig.28, p.43, fig.43, p.57, fig.55, pp.148-9, figs.172-3).

Muhammad Mu'azzam (1643-1712), the second son of the Emperor Aurangzeb, succeeded his father in 1707 at the age of 63, as Shah Alam Bahadur, known as Bahadur Shah I. He spent much of the remainder of his life on the battlefield. For a summary of his troubled reign, see Welch 1985, pp.361 & 364.

For the latest discussion of the artist Bhavanidas, and illustrations of his work, see Haidar in Beach, Fischer and Goswamy 2011, vol.II, pp.531-546, including related works from the artist's Delhi period (figs.2-5). For another miniature depicting this Peacock Throne, which was looted by Nadir Shah at the sack of Delhi in 1739, see Beach and Koch 1997, p.125, fig.22.

Warren Hastings (1732-1818), who acquired this painting in India in the eighteenth century, was one of the key figures, along with Lord Clive (see lots 27 and 32) in the history of British India. Joining the East India Company in 1750, he arrived in Calcutta and quickly established a reputation as a diligent and energetic employee. He studied Persian and Urdu and learnt about Indian politics. He was in Robert Clive's force at the re-taking of Calcutta in 1757. Despite certain setbacks along the way, he rose through the Company to become Governor of Calcutta in 1771, Governor-General of Bengal from 1773-74 and Governor-General of India from 1774-84. On his return to England he was impeached, but after long legal battles he was acquitted. He assembled a sizeable collection of paintings and calligraphy while in India, which were sold after his death in an auction of the contents of his house, Daylesford House, Oxfordshire, by Messrs. Farebrother, Clark and Lye on 22 August 1853.