Sufi Aliyar Khan, Master of Ceremonies to the King of Delhi, attribted to Lalji, India, Delhi, August-September 1815

Watercolour on paper, inscription on detached cover sheet in E.S. Fraser's hand "No. 38, Sooffee Alleeyar Khan, Master of Ceremonies to the King of Delhee"

In the Collection of William (1784-1835) and James Fraser (1783-1856)
By direct descent to Malcolm R. Fraser Esq

Archer and Falk 1989, no.124, p.127
Sotheby's New York, 9 December 1980, lot 161

This is one of the original portraits commissioned by the Fraser brothers (in this case probably James), probably from the artist Lalji. This artist is mentioned by James Fraser as having painted a small number of portraits for the brothers, including this one and two of a dancing girl called Malaguire, as well as a portrait of William (which, however, may have been painted by Lalji's son Hulas Lal). In his diary entries between 26th August and 6th September 1815 James Fraser records the commissioning and execution of the present portrait and two others: "I have prevailed upon William to sit for his picture to Lalljee.....his son paints better than himself and it is to him that I have got William to sit. .... Today I have got my Brother's picture...which is very like, with some great faults. Soophie's & Malaguire's pictures are both capital." (Archer and Falk 1989, p.37). James tells us that Lalji was a pupil of Zoffany, the German-born British artist who had been resident in India from 1783 to 1789 (ibid).