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Lot Essay
The present lot is one of the few signed works by Nidha Mal, one of Emperor Muhammad Shah's most skilled painters. His refined and naturalistic painting style is typical of the Imperial Mughal style of the first half of the 18th century. Nidha Mal was brother to Hunhar II (Puran Nath) whose painting of Muhammad Shah is in the Royal Collection (RCIN 1005068.ad). Hunhar's signature reveals he was khane-zad ('born to the royal household') meaning that his and Nidha Mal's father was most likely also a royal artist. Following Muhammad Shah's death in 1748 many artists, including Nidha Mal and his brother, left Delhi to find patronage the courts of Bengal and Awadh.
Nidha Mal's composition and styling of figures and landscapes are very much in keeping with the style of the 18th century Delhi imperial style. However, his treatment of figures is distinctive. The two ladies in our painting, Nur Jahan and her attendant, both have slightly up-curved noses and gently pouting lips, features found in other works by the artist. This signature physiognomy can be seen in Muhammad Shah with Courtiers, circa 1735 (Edwin Binney Collection, San Diego Museum. See T. McInerney, 'Mughal Paintings during the Reign of Muhammad Shah' in B. Schmitz (ed.), After the Great Mughals, Painting in Delhi and Regional Courts in the 18th and 19th centuries, Marg, Mumbai, vol. 53, no.4, 2002, p.25, fig.10), a group scene of an Awadhi official on a terrace (ibid, p.5, fig.4) and another portrait of a single Awadhi official (ibid, p.4, fig.3).
For a further discussion on Nidha Mal and his style see Toby Falk and Mildred Archer, Indian Miniatures in the India Office Library, London, 1981, no.190, pp.121-2. Works by Nidha Mal have sold at Sotheby's, London, 11 April 1988, lot 18, and Christie's, New York, 16 September 2008, lot 477.