MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1570-80

This miniature relates to one of the same subject by the Akbari artist Jagan or Jaganath (active between 1558-1605), now in the Keir Collection (B.W. Robinson et.al., Islamic Art in the Keir Collection, London, 1988, PI1a, pp.37-39). Both miniatures, and another related example from the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection (formerly in the collection of Stuart Cary Welch, sold Sotheby's, London, 12 December 1972, lot 20 and more recently published Michael Brand and Glenn D. Lowry, Akbar's India: Art from the Mughal City of Victory, exhibition catalogue, 1985-86, no.67, p.103), share not only similar subjects but also similar drawing of the figures' faces - particularly that of the teacher in both our miniature and that in Binney Collection. The carpet of our miniature, and that in the Keir Collection miniature - which are both decorated with large scale scrolling vine - are also similar. The Keir Collection miniature is dated to circa 1580 and that in the Binney Collection to circa 1570-80. It seems likely that our miniature is of similar period.

As well as those mentioned above, and the miniature of the following lot, a number of other miniatures with similar subjects are known. One is published in Stuart C. Welch, "Mughal and Deccani Miniature Paintings from a Private Collection", Ars Orientalis, Vol. V, 1963, fig.2, p.222. Another is in the Cleveland Museum of Art (Linda York Leach, Indian Miniature Paintings and Drawings, The Cleveland Museum of Art Catalogue of Oriental Art, Part I, Cleveland, 1986, pp.108-09, fig.31). In Skelton's entry regarding the miniature in the Keir Collection he lists one more that is in the Collection of the late Sir Cowasji Jehangir (K. Khandalavala and Moti Chandra, Miniatures and Sculptures from the Collection of the late Sir Cowasji Jehangir, Bombay, 1965, fig.23, p.18).

For a short discussion on the subject, please see the following lot.