PAINTING PROVINCIAL MUGHAL, INDIA, FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY; CALLIGRAPHY, INDIA, 18TH CENTURY

This joyful painting likely depicts either the Muslim festival of Shab-bara'at or Diwali, the Hindu festival of light. During the period of Muhammad Shah (r.1719-48) depictions of the imperial harem became very popular and the present painting would appear to be of this type. The group of ladies celebrate on the terrace with sparklers and music all whilst under the stern and watchful supervision of the duenna in the lower left. Our illustration relates especially closely to a composition of the same theme sold in these Rooms, 26 October 2017, lot 164, in which the terrace balustrade is nearly identical. Further paintings of similar subjects from the same period are in the Smithsonian Museum, Washington (F1924.6) and San Diego Museum of Art (1990.374). Another painting of ladies with fireworks on a terrace, from the personal collection of Prince & Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan, recently sold in these Rooms, 28 October 2025, lot 22