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Lot Essay
In 1786, Humphry spent about seven months painting the Nawab and his family and ministers at the Court of Oudh in Lucknow. He submitted an account of 47,000 rupees for the portraits which was approved by the Resident Colonel Harper and the Nawab Vizier was so pleased that he offered an extra 3,000 rupees to make the sum a total of 50,000 rupees. Humphry was paid 5,000 rupees and given a bond for the remainder, made payable at the end of the month, but the debt was never fully recovered. After copious correspondence, Humphry only ever managed to collect a few hundred pounds.
Archer (supra) records that '...Humphry was greatly annoyed when the appointment made by him (Haidar Beg Khan) was cancelled as he complained of fever, yet the same afternoon, Smith met him at Colonel Harper's house where he appeared in excellent health. He sat for only half an hour on 12 June but was too busy to give more sittings. He wore a cream costume and a bright pink turban. Humphry showed him half-length, holding a letter-bag with red seal, against a green background and two pillars.'
Another miniature of this sitter by Humphry is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see K. Coombs, The Portrait Miniature in England, London, 1998, illustrated p. 103).
Archer (supra) records that '...Humphry was greatly annoyed when the appointment made by him (Haidar Beg Khan) was cancelled as he complained of fever, yet the same afternoon, Smith met him at Colonel Harper's house where he appeared in excellent health. He sat for only half an hour on 12 June but was too busy to give more sittings. He wore a cream costume and a bright pink turban. Humphry showed him half-length, holding a letter-bag with red seal, against a green background and two pillars.'
Another miniature of this sitter by Humphry is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see K. Coombs, The Portrait Miniature in England, London, 1998, illustrated p. 103).