INDIA, late 17th - early 18th century, Mughal period - Lot 32

INDIA, late 17th - early 18th century, Mughal period Album page with a portrait of a Mughal court officer Polychrome pigments and gold on paper. Against a green background typical of Mughal court portraits, the portrait of a full-length officer stands out, his attire leaving no doubt as to the importance of his status. The weapons he wears - a katar and two swords, talwar and firangi, finely enameled and inlaid with gold and precious stones - are indicative of a high military rank. We also note the finesse of her garments embroidered with flowers and gold thread. Page 23.3 x 17 cm Painting 17 x 10.5 cm Provenance: Jacques-Émile Blanche, then by descent. The Cleveland Museum of Art holds a page from the Late Shah Jahan Album depicting a man whose features are very similar to our portrait (1945.168). The Cleveland Museum identifies him as Asaf Khan (1569-1641), a close advisor to Jahangir and later Shah Jahan, and father of the latter's wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Victoria & Albert Museum holds another unidentified portrait, probably of the same officer (D.1171-1903). Our portrait is set within margins composed of a frieze of gilded chevrons, and a frieze of carnations and flowers alternating with leaves, painted in gold on a bluish ground. Margins of gilded floral motifs on a cream background are visibly trimmed. The old Mughal album mount is also visible on the back, where we note the presence elegant calligraphy in black ta'liq script in clouds on a gilded background, in gold-flecked margins on a blue background (also cropped). The calligraphy is signed Abo-I Baqer al-Mosavi, and dated 1093 AH (1682 AD). The margins of the album page were probably cut out when it was framed in the early Lommertz-Tirard-Albert (according to an old label visible on the back of the frame, bearing the address 119 rue de la Pompe, Paris). The gilder and framer Anatole Lommertz is listed on rue de la Pompe de la Pompe, in a Annuaire général de l'industrie et du commerce dated 1901 (BNF identifier, ark:/12148/ bpt6k11825370).