Solomon Receives a Message from the Hoopoe, Mughal, second half 17th century, with calligraphy by the royal scribe Abd al-Rahim Anbarin Qalam

drawing with use of gouache and gold on paper, margins ruled in orange and gold, with outer borders filled with gold scrolling flowers, the reverse with Persian quatrain written in nasta'liq script in black ink, signed by 'Abd al-Rahim, with dark blue inner borders and illuminated cornerpieces, plain outer borders

In generally good overall condition, mild areas of rubbing, a few creases, outer margins with some abrasions, reverse with some losses to paper and a few worm holes, thumbed, old repairs to upper right hand corner, some creases and stains, colours otherwise good and gold bright, calligraphy bold, 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 coloured drawing depicts an episode in the mystical romance between King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, in which the hoopoe, the intermediary between the two, delivers a message to Solomon, who is shown here seated on a richly adorned throne borne by demons and accompanied by angels. A related scene of Solomon enthroned, painted by Mirza Ghulam is in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore (see Okada 1992, fig.125).

The quality and delicacy of the drawing and shading of this painting is very fine and the composition is confidently arranged. Two drawings in the British Library (India Office Library Collections) are executed in a similar manner (see Falk and Archer 1981, nos.143,145). One of these (no.143) depicts a group of angels adoring the infant Christ, and the similarities to the angels in the present work, both in terms of form and draughtsmanship, are very striking. Although of extremely fine quality, the present drawing is not the work of the artist Abu'l Hasan, whose epithet Nadir al-Zaman has been inscribed in two places (below the throne and in the lower border). More likely it dates from slightly later, during the reign of Aurangzeb.The calligraphy on the reverse of the present folio is signed by the royal scribe 'Abd al-Rahim al-Katib, who was one of emperor Akbar's favourite calligraphers and was given the title Anbarin Qalam (Amber Pen).