Lot 68
Central Asia, India, Mughal period, ca. 18th century CE. Two fine illuminated manuscript pages, both hand-painted scenes of regal couples on handmade paper. One composition depicts a prince and princess with attendants rowing their boat and serving them a special beverage as they glide along a river, gazing into one another's eyes and gently embracing one another, with calligraphic script in black and red against a gold leaf ground in the upper and lower margins. The other depicts a similarly luxuriously dressed and bejeweled couple looking out from their palace to a verdant landscape beneath blue skies as the prince points to the distance and white birds fly above. The painting is surrounded by painted decorative borders in rich jewel tones: red, blue, and yellow with silvery floral and geometric motifs over the blue and red borders, and both compositions are framed under glass. Size: piece with text measures 9.75" L x 5.25" W (24.8 cm x 13.3 cm); 15.375" L x 12.375" W (39.1 cm x 31.4 cm) framed
The Mughals, Islamic dynasty rulers of northern India between 1526 and 1857, were known for their great patronage of the arts. Artists created intricate paintings and illuminated manuscripts depicting scenes of daily life, adventurous tales, mythological and royalty scenes like these. Mughal painting refers to a type of miniature painting - either serving as book illustrations or created as single work. The term miniature suggests a tiny scale; however, it actually indicates a style of watercolor work similar to early European book illustrations that used the red pigment minia. Some Indian miniatures are in fact quite large. The Mughal style stems from Persian miniature painting, though with Indian Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist influences, evolving largely throughout the Mughal Empire (16th to 19th centuries), and eventually spreading to other Indian courts - Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh - flourishing during the reigns of Akbar, Shah Jahan, and Jahangir. The tradition continues today with Mughal-style miniature paintings still being created, though by a relatively small number of artists in Rajasthan.
Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#153194
- Condition: Paintings have not been examined outside the frames. The page with calligraphic text has losses to lower left and corners. There is some foxing to the margins, but the painted imagery is still strong. The composition with the painted decorative borders shows a bit of waviness, some wear to the prince's yellow garment, some staining to the white mat, and scuffs to the frame.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |