Isfandiyar taking refreshments with a princess in a palace pavilion, Mughal, early 17th century

gouache with gold and ink on paper, inscribed twice below on 18th-century mount in nast'aliq script ‘Feast of Prince Isfandiyar’ and ‘The portrait of Prince Isfandiyar feasting’, mounted with borders from an 18th-century Lucknow album, verso with a page of unrelated text in nast'aliq script, mounted in a decorative floral border

Sotheby’s, London, 17 June 1999, lot 2

In good overall condition, some minor abrasions at album page edges, 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 miniature, perhaps attributable to Farhad, comes from the same sub-imperial manuscript of the first quarter of the seventeenth century as three other known pages: an overpainted example in the Chester Beatty Library (Leach 1995, vol.II, p.670, no.6.258, footnote 1), and two others sold in these rooms, 12 October 1990, lots 114-115. A similar illustration, of almost identical dimensions, showing Iskandar and Nushabeh, is in the Keir Collection and may be from the same manuscript (see Robinson et al 1976, p.255, V.57, pl.124).