MUGHAL INDIA, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A PORTRAIT OF THE DERVISH MUNYA SHAH
MUGHAL INDIA, 18TH CENTURY
Transparent and opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, depicting a Sufi dervish sitting on a palace terrace resting on his walking stick, an inscription in minute black nasta'lig on his begging bowl, mounted as an album page between minor cream and green borders with gold illumination on wide gold-speckled cream margins
Drawing 5 1/8 x 3 ½in. (13 x 8.2cm.); folio 15 x 10 ½ in. (38 x 26.7cm.)

Provenance

Bonhams, London, 14 October 2004, lot 114

Engraved

tasvir-e munya shah khal(?) – Portrait of Munya Shah

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Lot Essay

Depictions of Sufi saints were common in 17th century Mughal painting. Akbar was widely admired for his interest and tolerance of other faiths. After Akbar, Jahangir continued his father’s policy of religious tolerance. Shah Jahan’s elder son, Prince Dara Shikoh had a keen interest in Sufism and mystical aspects of religion and is known to have often frequented gatherings of holy men. He commissioned Mughal artists to paint portraits of ascetics and dervishes and is often himself the subject, seated amidst Sufis.

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