A standing portrait of a courtier, probably Raja Man Singh of Amber, attributable to Bishandas, Mughal, circa 1595-1600

gouache heightened with gold on paper, extended above, below and at either side, laid down on an album page with coloured borders

Major Harold Amery, London (1877-1915)
Rt. Hon. Leopold Amery, C.H., P.C., London (1873-1955)
Rt. Hon. Baron Amery of Lustleigh, P.C., London (1919-96)
Acquired in 1997

In fairly good overall condition, slight creasing and rubbing. a few stains, 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."

Like lot 4 in this sale, this miniature is from an album of small court portraits prepared for the Emperor Akbar (r.1556-1605). It is typical of the many portraits of courtiers and members of the household made for the Emperor Akbar. Abu’l Fazl tells us in the A’in-i Akbari that "His Majesty himself sat for his likeness, and also ordered to have the likenesses taken of all the grandees of the realm. An immense album was thus formed: those that have passed away have received a new life, and those who are still alive have immortality promised them." (translated by Blochmann, 1873 (reprint 1989), vol.I, p.115). Brand and Lowry (1985, pp.79-80) note that the portraits "provided the emperor with a visual record that enabled him to 'see' the various members of his court without having to read about them... Differences in size and setting suggest that at least two major portrait albums were formed: one with relatively large figures painted on green backgrounds...". The present work falls in to this bracket. The miniature was later enlarged for an album possibly prepared for Prince Salim, the future Emperor Jahangir (1569-1627, r.1605-27), the enlargements clearly visible here. For illustrations of other of the many extant portraits of this type, including those with enlargements and cypress trees, see inter alia, Brand and Lowry 1985, pp.81-83, nos.47-55; Paris 1986, no.6, pl.4; see also lot 4 in the present catalogue. Catherine Glynn has pointed out that the build, posture and turban of the present subject suggest that it is a portrait of Raja Man Singh of Amber (d.1614). For a portrait of Raja Man Singh showing a very close resemblance to the present example that confirms the identity see Sotheby's London, 7 December 1970, lot 105.

Bishandas, the nephew of the painter Nanha, began his career under Akbar around 1589-90, contributing to the Baburnama (Victoria and Albert Museum, IM.276,276a-1913, the well-known double page illustration of Babur supervising the laying out of the Bagh-e Wafa ('Garden of Fidelity'), see Stronge 2002, pp.90-91, pl.59). He quickly became respected for his skills as a portraitist and in 1600 moved with Prince Salim to Allahabad, continuing in his employ after Salim succeeded to the throne as Emperor Jahangir (r.1605-27). He was one of only five artists to receive a mention in the Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (translated by Rogers, 1909 (reprint 1989), vol.II, pp.116-7), where Jahangir writes that he was "unequalled in his age for taking likenesses". He was selected by Jahangir to travel with his embassy to Shah Abbas of Persia in 1613 in order to take likenesses of the Shah and his court. He continued painiting for Shah Jahan (r.1627-58), his career coming to an end around 1640. For further discussion of Bishandas and examples of his work see Beach 1978, pp.107-111; Das in Das et al. 1998, pp.112-133; Leach 1995, vol.II, pp.1100-1101; Okada 1992, pp.154-163; Das in Beach, Fischer and Goswamy 2011, pp.259-278. For a portrait by Bishandas of Suraj Singh Rathor of circa 1590 see Welch et al. 1987, p.140, no.28; Okada 1992, p.157, fig.189.