KING DAVID PLAYS THE HARP

Some age-related oxidation and abrasions particularly to the verdigris background and ruled lines. Some abrasions to the inner blue border. Verso: Slight stains to the backing paper. Traces of old conservator's tape. Conservation framed. Please note that this work has been re-dated to circa 1800.
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.
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The gold-crowned Prophet David, seated on an octagonal dais, robed in purple and gold with blue and gold hems, playing an angel-headed harp, his fingers plucking the strings. On a low green landscape with flowering blossoms.  Enthroned against a verdigris background.

Mughal images of the biblical King David was a subject likely inspired by the central section of an engraving by Johann Sadeler I (Netherlands 1550-1601 Venice circa 1590-1600).  An example of "King David Playing the Harp with Angels Dancing and Playing Music" is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession no. 53.601.171).  Imperial Mughal painters - beginning with the royal workshops of Emperor Akbar - had absorbed the pictorial influence of European art via engravings and oil paintings imported into the Mughal court.  Some influences were stylistic in the form of naturalistic shading and detail - however occasionally the influences were in the form of European portraiture and subjects - often biblical - as in the present example.

There are two other known examples of this subject,  one ascribed to Manohar (The David Collection, Copenhagen, inventory no. 31/2001) dated circa 1620-30 - set within borders of a Shah Jahan muraqqa' folio. Another version made in Delhi circa 1800 from the James and William Fraser Collection was mounted into later Shah Jahan style borders.  Our present example has a somewhat rounder portrait-like face and wispier beard than the two previous examples - as well some differences in the colors and dais placement above the lower landscape.  All three examples are set on plain verdigris backgrounds.  

Applied within a Later Eighteenth Century album folio with dark blue inner gold-flecked borders with gold inner margins between colored ruled lines. Buff/natural gold-flecked outer borders.  Inscribed above in black ink Urdu script "shab e mubarak hadrat auliya alai salam" honoring the Prophet David, on the verdigris ground with another in the outer border at top.

For a similar work, see Sotheby's London, 23 April 1996, lot 8.