- 269
A maiden being led to her bedchamber, with calligraphy by Muhammad Amin al-Mashhadi, Mughal, circa 1650-60
Estimate
20,000 - 25,000 GBP
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Description
- Gouache on paper highlighted with gold
gouache heightened with gold on paper, inner border decorated with gold scrolls, outer margins flecked with gold, cartouche in the upper margin with Persian inscription, reverse with Persian quatrain in large black nasta'liq script, 10 smaller inscriptive cloud bands including signature, against a ground of dense scrolls on gold, old sale label stuck to lower edge, 'no.3503'
Provenance
Ex-collection Sir Elijah Impey, first Chief Justice of Bengal from 1774-83
Condition
In good overall condition, some waterstaining and buckling to lower margin and top left hand corner, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
above the painting: tasvir-e hosn-e 'alam kayfi vaqt-e shab
‘Image of the beauty of the world (hosn-e 'alam) intoxicated at night'
This large album page, with its wide outer margins flecked with gold once belonged to an album compiled by Sir Elijah Impey, the first Chief Justice of Bengal from 1774-83, and husband of Lady Impey, patron of the album of famous natural history illustrations (see lot 226). The album was auctioned after Impey's death at the sale of his library held by Philips of 73 New Bond Street, London, on 21 May, 1810. A further painting from the same album, sharing the same borders with inscriptive cartouche in the upper margin, is in the Chester Beatty Library (In 34.12, published in S. Markel and T.B. Gude et al, India's Fabled City: The Art of Courtly Lucknow, Los Angeles, 2010, p.79, no.10).
The painting itself depicts a popular scene among Mughal artists, that of the lady being escorted to bed. A slightly earlier example illustrated Prince Murad Bakhsh is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see W.G. Archer, Indian Miniatures, London, 1960, pl.46), whilst a comparable scene of a later date is in the National Museum, New Delhi (see B.N. Goswamy, Rasa: les Neuf Visages de l'Art Indien, Paris, 1986, no.67).
The calligraphic panel on the reverse of the album page contains Persian quatrains, two of which are benedictions to a king and signed by Muhammad Amin Mashhadi. Active in the mid-seventeenth century, Mashhadi is best known as the scribe of the Padshahnameh manuscript in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, in 1067 AH/1656 AD (see M.C. Beach and E. Koch, King of the World, The Padshahnama, An Imperial Mughal Mansucript from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, London, 1997, p.158).
above the painting: tasvir-e hosn-e 'alam kayfi vaqt-e shab
‘Image of the beauty of the world (hosn-e 'alam) intoxicated at night'
This large album page, with its wide outer margins flecked with gold once belonged to an album compiled by Sir Elijah Impey, the first Chief Justice of Bengal from 1774-83, and husband of Lady Impey, patron of the album of famous natural history illustrations (see lot 226). The album was auctioned after Impey's death at the sale of his library held by Philips of 73 New Bond Street, London, on 21 May, 1810. A further painting from the same album, sharing the same borders with inscriptive cartouche in the upper margin, is in the Chester Beatty Library (In 34.12, published in S. Markel and T.B. Gude et al, India's Fabled City: The Art of Courtly Lucknow, Los Angeles, 2010, p.79, no.10).
The painting itself depicts a popular scene among Mughal artists, that of the lady being escorted to bed. A slightly earlier example illustrated Prince Murad Bakhsh is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see W.G. Archer, Indian Miniatures, London, 1960, pl.46), whilst a comparable scene of a later date is in the National Museum, New Delhi (see B.N. Goswamy, Rasa: les Neuf Visages de l'Art Indien, Paris, 1986, no.67).
The calligraphic panel on the reverse of the album page contains Persian quatrains, two of which are benedictions to a king and signed by Muhammad Amin Mashhadi. Active in the mid-seventeenth century, Mashhadi is best known as the scribe of the Padshahnameh manuscript in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, in 1067 AH/1656 AD (see M.C. Beach and E. Koch, King of the World, The Padshahnama, An Imperial Mughal Mansucript from the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, London, 1997, p.158).