SIGNED GHULAM MUHAMMAD, PROVINCIAL MUGHAL, CIRCA 1760

Details

A FIREWORK DISPLAY FOR A MUGHAL PRINCESS
SIGNED GHULAM MUHAMMAD, PROVINCIAL MUGHAL, CIRCA 1760
Opaque pigments and gold on paper, the scene takes place on a terrace at night, the princess seats on a gilt armchair with attendants and children around her, other women hold fireworks before her, with musicians standing in front of a marble pavilion, fireworks illuminate a lake in the background, signed in the top left corner, the reverse with inscription in devanagari
8 1/8 x 9in. (20.7 x 22.8cm.)

Provenance

British Rail Pension Fund, Sotheby's, 23 April 1996, lot 3.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

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Lot Essay

A similar scene of firework display, depicting Ladies of the imperial harem celebrating shab-i barat, held during the 15th night of the Islamic month of Sha'ban, is in the San Diego Museum of Art (1990.374, Princes and Painters in Mughal Delhi, 1707-1857, exhibition catalogue, New York, 2012, cat 15, p.87).

However, the scene more probably depicts the festival of diwali, particularly popular and known as the Festival of Light. It is celebrated at the end of the month of Asvina and the beginning of Karttika (about October).

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