Lot Essay
'Ali Adil Shah II ruled in Bijapur from 1656-72. His title of 'Wali' rather than 'Sultan' in the inscription may suggest the miniature was painted for a Mughal patron, though the Mughals also usually referred to the Bijapur rulers as 'Khan' rather than 'Shah'.
The emperor Aurangzeb ruled from 1658-1707 and the 'khilid makan' of the inscription implies he was still alive at the time of painting.
The artist Anup Chattar, though little known, apparently started work under Shah Jehan and then worked for Dara Shikoh, where he acquired the title 'Rai'. Following the prince's death he dropped this title and continued working under Aurangzeb. He seems to have had a son, Har Das, who also worked in the late 17th century as a painter.
For other paintings by the artist see: Falk, T. and Archer, M.: Indian Miniatures in the India Office Library, London 1981, nos 70, 71, 73, 117, 152, 204; Verma, S.P.: Mughal Painters and their Work, Delhi 1994, pp.61-2 and Poster, A.: Realms of Heroism, Brooklyn 1994, p.87, no.41.
The emperor Aurangzeb ruled from 1658-1707 and the 'khilid makan' of the inscription implies he was still alive at the time of painting.
The artist Anup Chattar, though little known, apparently started work under Shah Jehan and then worked for Dara Shikoh, where he acquired the title 'Rai'. Following the prince's death he dropped this title and continued working under Aurangzeb. He seems to have had a son, Har Das, who also worked in the late 17th century as a painter.
For other paintings by the artist see: Falk, T. and Archer, M.: Indian Miniatures in the India Office Library, London 1981, nos 70, 71, 73, 117, 152, 204; Verma, S.P.: Mughal Painters and their Work, Delhi 1994, pp.61-2 and Poster, A.: Realms of Heroism, Brooklyn 1994, p.87, no.41.