PORTRAIT OF SHAH JAHAN (D.1658)

MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1650

Details

PORTRAIT OF SHAH JAHAN (D.1658)
MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1650
Ink and wash heightened with gold on paper, laid down on card, mounted, framed and glazed
Painting 6 ¾ x 3 ¼ in. (17.2 x 8.4cm.)

Provenance

UK private collection, 1997
From which acquired by the present owner

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

In this mid-17^th century drawing, the emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628–1658) stands bearing a fly whisk in one hand and a sword over his shoulder in the other. There is a strikingly similar drawing in the Fitzwilliam Museum (pd.193-1948) from the same period, which depicts the emperor enthroned but holding a similar ceremonial flywhisk in his hand and with a sword resting on the edge of the throne. Minor details such as the conscious choice of adding colour to areas such as the jewels in his necklace and turban make it very likely that these two portraits were produced by the same artist or atelier.

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