Sultan Mahmud on horseback with retainers, India, Deccan, probably Kurnool, early 18th century

Gouache heightened with gold on paper, depicting a mounted figure inscribed 'Sultan Mahmud' above, behind a dog and three other figures, one holding a hawk and another with an axe, numbered in Persian in upper white border '30', laid down on an album page flecked with gold, the reverse with four horizontal and four short diagonal lines of bold thuluth script in black ink on white paper, the final lines mentioning the ancient Greek philosopher Plato ('Aflatun')

In reasonably good overall condition, some cracquelure, slightly rubbed at edges, a few smusges to reverse, small losses to right hand corners, colours bright, as viewed.
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In overall style this portrait of a ruler on horseback is closely comparable to an equestrian portrait of Ali Asghar Khan Bahadur of the early eighteenth century (Rietberg Museum, Zurich, see Zebrowski 1983, no.206). The style of the prancing horse and the figures of the retainers walking beside the prince are very similar. However, certain specific aspects link it to the rare school of Kurnool in the early eighteenth century. The facial type and beard are very close to the figure of Ghulam Hazrat Akbar Khan in a painting in the Musée Guimet attributed by Zebrowski to Kurnool (see Zebrowski 1983, nos.211-213), and another portrait identified by Zebrowski as of Kurnool origin provides us with a probable identification of the main mounted figure here as Mahmud Khan Dawudi (Rietberg Museum, Zurich, ibid, no.214). Zebrowski describes the Kurnool school as relating to both the Hyderabad and Bijapur schools, and it is interesting to note in the present work a Golconda influence, particularly in the figures of the walking retainers, and more specifically in their eyes, with the slightly 'popping' style distinctive of that school.