Lot 3
 
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Late 17th Century

Bikaner School

Size: 7 x 5 in (17.8 x 12.7 cm)


The Bikaner kingdom enjoyed close relations with the Mughals. Under Aurangzeb, the patronage of art declined at the Mughal court. The Maharajas of Bikaner who were great art lovers seized the opportunity. They brought in the finest Mughal painters to their court and revolutionized their own School. The best Bikaner paintings can be compared with the finest of Mughals.

This superb portrait of a Maharaja is from the Bikaner School, painted in the Mughal stlye. He stands regally, dressed in fine vestment with both his hands resting on the gold hilt of a long ceremonial sword that he holds in front of him.

The Maharaja has a very benevolent expression. He has large eyes and a sharp nose. His hair has turned grey with age. He has a headgear of the Mughal style with a gold 'patta' around it. He wears a long-sleeved jama of extremely fine fabric that falls in perfect folds, revealing the orange coloured churidar (pants) worn by him. The jama is held at the waist by an ornate, gold embroidered sash that holds his dagger. A cross leather belt, worn across his shoulder, holds another sword and his shield. His footwear offers a lovely colour contrast.

The artist has very thoughtfully and meticulously provided details such as the fine crease on the sleeves of the Maharaja's jama and around the waist and end of churidar that he wears. The thin jama has perfect pleats flowing down from below the tight waist sash. The pale, jade-green background adds to the soothing colour tone. The painting is very well finished, and has a red border that is not illustrated. The surface is smooth and the colours are soft. The transparent jama, the shading used for the upper torso, the choice of shades etc. all point to influence from the Mughal painting tradition.




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  Lot 3 of 55  

INDIAN ANTIQUITIES & MINIATURE PAINTINGS
25-26 APRIL 2012

Estimate
Rs 3,00,000 - 4,00,000
$6,000 - 8,000

Winning Bid
Rs 3,60,000
$7,200
(Inclusive of Buyer's Premium)






Published dimensions of this Lot are those of the full paper size and not the visible size of this Lot



 



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