MUGHAL INDIA, MID 18TH CENTURY

The expressive face of the female courtesan demonstrates the strength and skill of the artist. A painting in the Chester Beatty Library attributed by Linda York Leach to Faizabad, circa 1770, depicts an older courtesan with an expressive lined face wearing skilfully rendered light textiles, (Linda York Leach, Mughal and other Indian Paintings from the Chester Beatty Library, vol.II, London, 1995, p.663, cat.6.240). This is closely related to our painting, in which the subtle shading of the faces of the courtesans contrasts with the bold lines which outline the face of the prince. These bold lines can be compared to a portrait of a young prince riding which Leach has attributed to the Mughal court circa 1720-30. She identifies this new strength of line with the revival of Mughal painting under the reign of Muhammad Shah (r. 1719-48). The fine detail of our present work, in particular the treatment of the textiles with their intricate floral patterns, can be seen as part of this revival.