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Lot Essay
This painting comes from an extensive, dispersed series that classifies various omens that occur in daily life, from evil (such as a family of dogs or monkeys) through undesirable and good to excellent. The family of frogs in the current painting is classed as neshta, (undesirable). The series is described by Andrew Topsfield (Court Painting at Udaipur, Zurich, 2001, p.144-5 and fig.117). A further painting from the same series depicts the ‘excellent’ omen of winged elephants in a landscape (M. Archer, Rajput Miniatures from the Collection of Edwin Binney, 3rd, Portland, 1968, p. 22, no. 7). A number of further examples have been sold at Bonham’s, including New York 14 March 2016, lot 100, and 14 September 2015, lot 110.
The style here is not always typical for Mewar, and can sometimes demonstrate strong direct influence from the Mughal court. Here the the green ground is more shaded and the mountains very Persianate, although these are also found in some other seventeenth century Mewar paintings.
The style here is not always typical for Mewar, and can sometimes demonstrate strong direct influence from the Mughal court. Here the the green ground is more shaded and the mountains very Persianate, although these are also found in some other seventeenth century Mewar paintings.