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Lot 102

Sultan Ibrahim Adham of Balkh visited by angels
Provincial Mughal, mid 18th century

14 September 2015, 14:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$5,625 inc. premium

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Sultan Ibrahim Adham of Balkh visited by angels

Provincial Mughal, mid 18th century
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; Sultan Ibrahim seated cross-legged on a tree stump, with his eyes closed in contemplation, four angels standing before him in colorful robes bearing gifts, another ascetic leaning against a small mound on the opposite side.
Image: 7 5/8 x 10 3/8 in. (19.4 x 26.4 cm)

Footnotes

A popular subject in 18th-century Mughal paintings, echoing that of Siddhartha, Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham (d.776-77) gave up the royal Kingdom of Balkh to become a wandering dervish. Here, we see him visited by angels who favor him over a more seasoned dervish, serving him ten bowls of food and the other only one. When the other grumbles in envy, a voice from the sky explains that whereas he was poor to begin with, Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham gave up a lot more for the love of God.

Another example of this scene is published in Topsfield (ed.), In the Realm of Gods and Kings: Arts of India, London, 2004, pp.196-7; also see Christie's, London, 10 October 2013, lot 179.

Provenance:
Private New York Collection
Acquired from The Arcade Gallery Ltd, London, October 1972

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