A NOBLE, POSSIBLY AHMAD KHAN BANGASH, WITH HIS MISTRESSES,

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A NOBLE, POSSIBLY AHMAD KHAN BANGASH, WITH HIS MISTRESSES,
GOUACHE HEIGHTENED WITH GOLD AND SILVER ON PAPER, UNDER A CANOPY, ON A A TERRACE BY A PAVILLION, THE NOBLE SITS CARESSING A LADY WHO LOOKS COYLY AWAY, AROUND THEM ARE GATHERED EIGHT OTHER WOMEN WHO TALK, PLAY MUSIC, SMOKE, EAT PAN AND BRING REFRESHMENTS, A LAKE AND HILS VISIBLE BEYOND, FRAMED AND GLAZED, (LIGHT SPOTTING AND WORMING, POSSIBLE SMALL AREAS OF REPAINTING), PROBABLY FARRUKHABAD, 1760-1780 - 21 X 29CM.; AND PORTRAIT OF A MAN, HE STANDS ON A TERRACE WEARING GOLD AND WHITE HOLDING A SWORD IN HIS LEFT HAND AND A FLOWER SPRAY IN HIS RIGHT, BLUE SKY BEHIND, GOLD BORDER WITH RED AND BLACK RULES, FRAMED AND GLAZED, 19TH CENTURY - 32 X 22CM.
SEE COLOUR PLATE 18 (2)

Lot Essay

THE VERSO OF THE FIRST PAINTING HAS THE SEAL IMPRESSION OF ASAF AL-DAULA (1749-97), READING WAZIR AL-MUMALIK ASAF AD-DAULA BAHADUR ASAF JAH AND IS DATED AH 1189/1775-6 AD. 1775 WAS THE YEAR OF ACCESSION OF ASAF AL-DAULA AS NAWAB OF OUDH AND IN 1776 HE WAS APPOINTED 'NAWAB WAZIR' BY THE EMPEROR.
THERE IS ALSO AN INVENTORY INSCRIPTION NOTING THAT THE PAINTING WAS ENTERED INTO THE LIBRARY ON 2 RABI I AH 1198/2 MARCH 1784.
FOR OTHER FARRUKHABAD PAINTINGS SEE: FALK AND ARCHER: INDIAN MINIATURES IN THE INDIA OFFICE LIBRARY, P.469. NOS.361, 363-4; INDIAN MINIATURE PAINTINGS FROM THE COLLECTION OF EDWIN BINNEY 3RD (THE MUGHAL AND DECCANI SCHOOLS), P.127, NO.103.

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