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Lot Essay
This portrait of Shah Jahan follows an almost identical depiction inscribed to Hashim dated to the mid-17th Century and in the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art, (inv. 1939.49; Beach, 1981, cat. no.18d). It has been suggested that the quality of the draughtsmanship of our drawing, particularly noticeable in the delicate facial features of Shah Jahan and in the expressive surprisingly strong faces of the putti, are an indication that this is by Hashim, a preparatory or companion work for the Freer Gallery painting. A further depiction of Shah Jahan standing on a globe from the Minto Album is almost identical to both our work and the Freer Gallery painting, (Leach, 1995, vol.I, no. 3.26, p. 401).
The depiction on the verso side of this album folio is an illustration most probably from a copy of the Harivamsa which recounts the life of Krishna. The very distinctive crown worn by the figure on the balcony with its three pointed pinnacles each with two rounded bosses is very similar to crowns depicted in the Harivamsa in the Victoria and Albert Museum dated to circa 1590, (Inv. IS4-1970; Stronge, 2002, pl.63, p. 97).
The depiction on the verso side of this album folio is an illustration most probably from a copy of the Harivamsa which recounts the life of Krishna. The very distinctive crown worn by the figure on the balcony with its three pointed pinnacles each with two rounded bosses is very similar to crowns depicted in the Harivamsa in the Victoria and Albert Museum dated to circa 1590, (Inv. IS4-1970; Stronge, 2002, pl.63, p. 97).