MUGHAL INDIA, CIRCA 1650

Several closely related versions of this composition identify the sitter as Bibi Farzana or Farzana Begum, the sister of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Whereas Mughal portraits of men typically present their subjects standing formally in a durbar-like setting, single images of women more often depict idealised figures of beauty, frequently shown holding a flower or small cup, embodying the Mughal ideal of nazakat, or refined feminine grace, passion and pleasure. Portraits of Bibi Farzana in a similar pose and court attire appear in a number of Mughal albums. A closely related example is in the Royal Collection Trust (RCIN 1005068.w), where the lady is shown in the same graceful stance holding a poppy stem and similarly adorned with strands of pearls and elaborate jewellery. Another comparable version is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.72.88.4). The strong compositional and stylistic similarities among these examples suggest the persistence of a popular atelier model representing Farzana Begum that circulated widely in Mughal painting workshops during the mid-17^th century. Another portrait with near-identical costume, jewellery and facial features was sold in these Rooms on 17 October 2022, lot 97.