MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1590

The style of these paintings relates to the sub-Imperial commissions of Akbar's courtiers during the late 16th century, such as the Ramayana created in 1587-98 for 'Abd al-Rahim Khan Khanan, Akbar's military commander-in-chief now in the Freer Gallery (Milo Cleveland Beach, The Imperial Image, Paintings for the Mughal Court, Washington D.C., 1981, pp.128-155; also John Seyller, Workshop and Patron in Mughal India, Zurich, 1999). Other related manuscripts include the British Library Razmnama of 1598 (J.P.Losty, The Art of the Book in India, London, 1982, no.88), and the 'Manley' Ragamala of circa 1600 (now in the British Museum). Related manuscript illustrations are also found in the manuscript of the Baburnama now divided between the State Museum of Oriental Cultures, Moscow, and the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore (S.Tyulayev, Miniatures of Babur-nama, Moscow, 1960, pls.1 and 64-69).
Other pages from this album were sold in these Rooms, 4 October 2012, lots 163 to 176.