A lady entertaining a Bhil

Details
A lady entertaining a Bhil
by 'Ali Quli Jubadar
probably Kashmir, second half 17th century

gouache heightened with gold on paper, by the edge of a lake before a fire outside the sage's hut, the aristcratic lady, wearing red and white striped jama, kneels and offers the fur and leaf-clad sage a cup of water, the sage's dog lies nearby, gold and green ruled margins, signed in black by 'Ali Quli, (extended at edges), red border with further gold and green rules, mounted on buff leaf, panel of black nasta'liq on dark buff paper within gold clouds on reverse
miniature 7½ x 5½in. (19 x 13.9cm.)

Lot Essay

The treatment of the trees and face are typical of 'Ali Quli Jubadar, who was known to have copied Indian miniatures as well as the European ones popular at the time. An eighteenth century album was sold in Paris (Laurin, Guilloux, Buffetard, Tailleur; Nouveau Drouot, 23 June 1982, lots 1-38) in which a miniature by Govardhan is followed by a copy of the same scene by 'Ali Quli (lots 11 and 12). There are also copies of the same European print by 'Ali Quli and Muhammad Baqir (lots 7 and 8).

The Bhils belonged to the tribal population of the Rajesthan area and were considered a curiosity by the Mughals, frequently being portrayed in their leaf clothes.

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