Sultan Abu'l-Hasan of Golconda

Details

Sultan Abu'l-Hasan of Golconda
Bikaner, late 17th century

After a Golconda original, gouache heightened with gold and silver on paper, the sultan stands, wearing silver and gold embroidered dress, holding a rose in his right hand and with his left hand resting on his shield, blue ground. flowers below, (slight discolouration and flaking, ground possibly repainted), black, red and blue borders, mounted in gold floral borders on a buff leaf painted with gold flowering vine (some staining, small repairs)
miniature 7½ x 4¾in. (19 x 12.1cm.)

Literature

Topsfield, A.: Paintings from the Rajput Courts, London 1986, pp.32 and 34. no.18. It is wrongly identified on the reverse as being of 'Ali 'Adil Shah of Bijapur.

Lot Essay

Sultan Abu'l Hasan of Golconda (1672-87) was known as Tana Shah, King of Taste due to love of the Arts and pleasure. He was born in India of Arab descent and became the last ruler of the Qutub Shah dynasty. For further information see Zebrowski, M.: Deccani Painting, London 1983, ch.10, where another portrait of the Sultan is published as fig.156.

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