HYDERABAD, CIRCA 1780

Details

A BATTLE OF THE GODS
HYDERABAD, CIRCA 1780
Gouache heightened with gold on paper, depicting a battle scene with central figures, one on a horse-drawn chariot, the other on an ox, one holding a bow and arrow and the other a trident, with numerous other figures on horseback, elephants and in smaller chariots, many noblemen wearing elaborate crowns, against a hilly background with a walled forest, a large figure stands in profile towards the bottom left hand side of the composition, within red margins with black and white rules, slight damages mostly affecting the margins, mounted, framed and glazed
15 x 11in. (38.1 x 28cm.)

Provenance

Anon sale (The property of a Lady) in these Rooms, 5 May 1977, lot 183.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This miniature is unusual in having the donor figure standing in the lower left hand corner. While he is here unidentified, there is a miniature which was exhibited in Amsterdam which had the same figure standing in the corner of another composition that was otherwise Hindu and religious in content (J. Bautze, Indian Miniature Paintings, Amsterdam, 1987, no.10, pp.29-30). While the present miniature is noticeably larger, the two figures in the lower left hand corner are almost identical, although here he is wearing somewhat less jewellery than in the other depiction. The Amsterdam miniature identifies him as Ray Lalchand who appears not to be known from the historical record. Another miniature in the present collection also shows him, again with his religious inspiration in the background (lot 329).

More from Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds

View All