306


305 Shah Sultan Husayn at Court, Mughal India, c.1710, opaque pigments heightened with gold and silver on paper, the ruler enthroned before a white pavilion, a black ink identification inscription in nasta’liq below, his courtiers and generals on either side, the reverse with silhouettes of birds, felines and deer against a pink-speckled background, each animal outlined with gold, with gold floral sprays and garlands outlined in black between, with gilt floral borders, mounted, painting 30.5 x 22.2cm


This painting and the following lot are from a series illustrations to a poetical romance relating to the Mughal emperor Shah ‘Alam, also known as Bahadur Shah I (r. 1707-1712). It illustrates Sultan Husayn, the Shah of Persia (r. 1668-1726) seated in a pavilion in a large courtyard depicted in Mughal dress but with distinctive Safavid style facial hair and turban. His courtiers are similarly dressed.


Other pages from this album all of which have similar gilt borders and stencilled silhouettes of animals on a pink speckled ground on the reverse were sold at Christie’s South Kensington 1 October 2012 Lots 16 and 132 and Sotheby’s New York 17 March 1988 Lots 326-329. Two of these folios, Lots 327 and 327 are in the Cleveland Museum of Art (inv. no. 2013.337). £4,000-6,000*


306 A battle scene, Mughal India, c.1710, opaque pigments heightened with gold on paper, two opposing rulers mounted on their elephants overlook a melee, in floral margins, with gilt mounted borders with a lattice of large flower blooms, the reverse with silhouettes of birds, felines against a pink-speckled background each animal outlined in gold, with gold floral sprays and garlands outlined in black between, with gilt floral borders, painting 18.4 x 26.1cm


Some of the figures in this painting are identified. For instance next to the ruler is an inscription in nasta’liq which reads ‘Muhammad Shah’, next to the rider of the rearing horse is the inscription ‘Bakhshi’ (an honorific Mughal military title).


Muhammad Shah appears to be in discussion with an army general who may be acting as go-between for his forces and the opposing army led by another Mughal prince, possible his half-brother Muhammed Kam Bakhsh whom he is know to have disliked bitterly. After the death of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, there was a vicious struggle for the throne between all the brothers. Muhammad Azam Shah was defeated and killed during the Battle of Jaju on 8 June 1707 by his older half brother Bahadur Shah I.


See the previous lot notes for other pages from this series sold at auction. £2,500-3,500*


* plus Buyer’s Premium 25% + VAT (30% inclusive of VAT) ARR - indicates an additional charge may apply, see information on page 2.


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