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A Mughal prince smoking a long-stemmed pipe, seated in an interior with attendants and a child, signed by Mushfiq, made for Abd al-Rahim Khan-Khanan, India, Mughal patronage in the Deccan, dated 1016 AH/1607-8 AD
Estimate
18,000 - 25,000 GBP
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Description
- gouache with gold on paper
gouache with gold on paper, signed at lower centre on purple panel "amal-i Mushfiq sanna 1016", mounted on an album page with gold-flecked buff paper borders, reverse blank
Provenance
Sold in these rooms, 19 October 1994, lot 151
Condition
Some cracks and areas of slight surface abrasion, nibbles to lower leaf edge, 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
This is a rare painting signed by the Mughal artist Mushfiq, who spent almost his entire career in the atelier of the Mughal general and bibliophilic patron Abd al-Rahim Khan-Khanan. Mushfiq was a talented and highly regarded artist, possibly a house-born of the "Lord of Lords" (Verma 1994, p.308). We are told by Abd al-Baqi Nihavandi in his biographical work the Ma'asir-i Rahimi of 1026 AH/1617 AD that Mushfiq was personally trained by Abd al-Rahim Khan-Khanan, and that the general had a transforming effect on the artist's skills and qualities, bringing about an almost alchemical enhancement of his talents (Seyller 1999, p.318). As well as one of the key painters of the atelier, Mushfiq was also a personal attendant of the Khan-Khanan.
Signed examples of his work are relatively rare, perhaps the best known being the borders, illumination and miniatures of a manuscript of the Panj Ganj copied by Sultan Ali Mashhadi and illuminated for Abd al-Rahim Khan-Khanan by Mushfiq in 1603-04 (Chester Beatty Library, Dublin and dispersed, see The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Part One, Sotheby's London, 6 April 2011, lot 104). He also contributed to the Freer Ramayana manuscript, the 1616-17 Razmnama and a Khamsa in the Staatsbibliothek, Berlin. A portrait of a muse is in the British Museum (see Verma 1994, p.308; Seyller 1999, pp.109, 133, figs. 163, 202-204, 208-212. See also ibid, p.291, n.67, where the present work is mentioned).
This early depiction of the practice of smoking is of particular interest for the style of the pipe with the extended stem. This style of smoking pre-dates the acceptance at the Mughal court of the hookah with its characteristic bowl through which the smoke could be drawn and cooled.
Signed examples of his work are relatively rare, perhaps the best known being the borders, illumination and miniatures of a manuscript of the Panj Ganj copied by Sultan Ali Mashhadi and illuminated for Abd al-Rahim Khan-Khanan by Mushfiq in 1603-04 (Chester Beatty Library, Dublin and dispersed, see The Stuart Cary Welch Collection, Part One, Sotheby's London, 6 April 2011, lot 104). He also contributed to the Freer Ramayana manuscript, the 1616-17 Razmnama and a Khamsa in the Staatsbibliothek, Berlin. A portrait of a muse is in the British Museum (see Verma 1994, p.308; Seyller 1999, pp.109, 133, figs. 163, 202-204, 208-212. See also ibid, p.291, n.67, where the present work is mentioned).
This early depiction of the practice of smoking is of particular interest for the style of the pipe with the extended stem. This style of smoking pre-dates the acceptance at the Mughal court of the hookah with its characteristic bowl through which the smoke could be drawn and cooled.