THE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED FAKHR AL-DIN, GOLCONDA, INDIA, CIRCA 1650

The master scribe who copied this calligraphic panel is Fakhr al-Din. Another work which could possibly be attributed to the same scribe is in The British Museum, London (OA0.327). That calligraphy is signed ‘Fakhr al-Din ‘Ali is and dated AH 998 / 1589 AD. Two further signed works were sold at Sotheby’s London, 18 October 1995, lot 68 and 7 October 2009, lot 26 - the scribe styling himself as Fakhr al-Din and Fakhr al-Din ‘Ali respectively. The latter was sold as part of an album with two folios dated AH 999 and AH 1000, albeit by other scribes, making it contemporary with the British Museum calligraphy. This would help to date our calligraphy to the late 16th, early 17th century.

St Agnes stands on the right of this painting, recognisable as she carries a lamb, her typical palm frond substituted for a rosewater sprinkler. A 15th century print in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (1984.1201.48) provides a good example of the inspiration behind this portrait and demonstrates the European influence on Mughal painting. This portrait is still distinctively Persianate with her head tilted downwards, the bulky sash on her hips and one hand holding the lamb. Our portrait is reminiscent of a portrait of a youth sold in these Rooms, 28 October 2025, lot 83 and shows strong Safavid influence on Mughal portraiture in the mid-17th century. To the left is likely Sultan Parviz, second son of Jahangir. A close comparable can be found in the National Museum of Asian Art, Washington D.C. (F1929.3) with similar dress and shading around the arms.