Matthew Thomas
Senior Specialist
Lot 163
A ruler seated with noblemen on an ornate floral carpet on a terrace, African attendants in the background North Deccan, Hyderabad, circa 1720
6 October 2015, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£2,000 - £3,000
Looking for a similar item?
Our Islamic and Indian Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
A ruler seated with noblemen on an ornate floral carpet on a terrace, African attendants in the background
North Deccan, Hyderabad, circa 1720
North Deccan, Hyderabad, circa 1720
gouache and gold on paper laid down on card
243 x 348 mm.
243 x 348 mm.
Footnotes
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's invasion of the Deccan in 1681 failed to suppress the talents of important local artists and the late 17th and early 18th Century was a period famous for fine portraiture in this region. This influence spread north and can be seen in the Provincial Mughal and Rajput schools continuing in the 18th Century. While the depiction of African servants is not unusual, the floral carpet is of particular note and may be an indication of the interaction between Hyderabad and Jaipur at this time. For further discussion and comparison see M. Zebrowski, Deccani Painting, 1983, pp. 209-230, col. pl. XXII; N. N. Haidar and M. Sardar, Sultans of the Deccan, India 1500-1700: Opulence and Fantasy, New York 2015, p. 287, and cat. no. 171.