Lot 87
Central Asia, India or Indo-Pakistani area (prior to establishment of Pakistan), ca. 19th century CE. Three impressive original watercolors on paper with fine ink outlines and beautiful washes of color that depict different genre scenes capturing various aspects of religious life. Each is numbered; "No. 11", "No. 12", and "No. 19" respectively, and each includes Arabic writing beneath the composition. The watercolors display a beautiful range of hues including scarlet reds, azure blues, and golden yellows. What's more, the artist's embrace of detail and the beauty of line is quite evident. No. 11 depicts several groups of individuals engaged in a sequence of ritualistic activities by a river. In order to convey depth in the image, the artist rendered the figures in contrasting scales and in varying degrees of aerial/atmospheric and linear perspective. Of particular visual interest are two long boats in the waters below, one waving what appears to be the Turkish flag and carrying an elite individual beneath a golden canopy, the other with a grand swan masthead and an elephant head at the rear, also carrying a noble personage. The iconography of No. 12 depicts a ceremony that involves the preparation and partaking of food in an outdoor setting. The artist presents a large group sitting in a circle being served various dishes by three standing men, with onlookers to the lower left and right, another group preparing food or drink in vessels to the lower right, and two spectators looking out from a columned edifice to the upper right. In addition to the Arabic writing beneath the scene, the following brief description was written in pencil, "Ceremony of a Monthly Entertainment / Hindoo (sp)/." Finally, No. 19 features three men praying before a detailed depiction of a mosque. The mosque is numbered "No. 1" and two of the worshippers are labeled "No. 2" and "No. 3" respectively. All in all, a rare ensemble of watercolors rich in iconography and wonderful artistry. Size of each print: 23" W x 18" H (58.4 cm x 45.7 cm)
Provenance: Ex-private East Coast USA collection; ex-private collection of Dr. Joseph Chess, Larchmont, NY, acquired in the 1950s.
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#111181
- Condition: All have wear to the edges and are slightly faded, but otherwise in excellent condition.
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