A Portrait of Dara Shikoh, India, Mughal, 18th Century

Gouache heightened with gold on paper, depicting a solitary figure resting a sword upon his shoulder in his right hand and holding a jewelled ornament in his left hand, a katar in his sash, standing in a simple grassy landscape, laid down on an album page with inner dark blue borders decorated with scrolling blue flowers, ruled in red, gold, blue and white, outer cream borders with a large, lobed trellis pattern in gold    

In good overall condition, 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 portrait of Dara Shikoh, whose identity is indicated by a small inscription in the lower border, is very close in style and in terms of the exact depiction of the physiognomy, to the figure of Dara Shikoh in a double portrait of him and his son Sulayman Shikoh, formerly in the Ehrenfeld Collection (see Ehnbom 1985, no.25; sale in our New York rooms, 21 March 1990, lot 14). The present work is executed with great skill in a seventeenth century mode, but the powdery, almost pointilist technique used on the face indicates its eighteenth century origin.

The use of a green background of this type for portraits of royal figures and courtiers was especially popular during the reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan. For examples from royal albums see Wright 2008, nos. figs.68, cat. nos. 45A, 50, 51A, 55, 56, 59, 61, 62, 64, 72, 77, 80, 81.