South Asia, India, Mughal Empire, ca. 18th Century CE. A finely painted depiction of an attractive Mughal harem woman standing in composite profile beneath the leafy canopy of a wispy tree. The artist presents the lady in a diaphanous patterned scarf overlaying her torso and coral pink skirt that tastefully reveals her voluptuous figure. The princess is also bedecked in an elaborate jewelry ensemble comprised of a multi-strand beaded necklace, earrings, armbands, bracelets, as well as a lovely veil - all meticulously delineated with round white beads (perhaps pearls) and golden elements which make for a lovely contrast with her alabaster white complexion. Her facial expression is serene with almond-shaped eyes, arched brows, a naturalistic nose, and pursed pink lips. Finely painted on paper (either Bansaha from crushed bamboo, Tatha from jute, or Tulat from cotton) and matted in silk, under glass in a gilded frame. Size: 5" L x 3.25" W (12.7 cm x 8.3 cm); 10.375" L x 8.375" W (26.4 cm x 21.3 cm) including mat and frame.

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 only by a relatively small number of artists in Rajasthan.

Provenance: ex-private New York, New York, USA collection; acquired in Singapore in 1988

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#131258

Painting shows expected age wear to certain pigments but is otherwise excellent. Minor chips to the frame. Wired for suspension.