Rare Paintings
 3 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Kublai Khan and His Empress Enthroned, from a Jami al-Twarikh (or Chingiznama)
1596

Kesu Kalan (Keshav Das)
Mughal dynasty
Reign of Akbar

Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper
H: 38.8 W: 25.3 cm
India

This painting from the era of the Mughal emperor Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) p... Read More
 3 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Saint Jerome
By Keshav Das (active ca. 1570–1604)
ca. 1580–85
India (Mughal court at Delhi)
Opaque watercolor on paper

This work, signed “Kesu Das,” was adapted from a European source, in all probability an engraving by Mario Cartaro published in 1564. The wide circulation of European C... Read More
 3 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Self-portrait of Keshav Das (active ca. 1570–1604)
circa 1570
India (Mughal court at Delhi)


The Hindu painter Keshav Das was an early local entrant into Akbar’s atelier, probably at the instigation of the Iranian master painter Khwaja ‘Abd al-Samad, who oversaw the studio at this time and had b... Read More
 3 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Keshav Das
Active 1570-1604/5, at the Mughal courts in Delhi, Lahore, Agra and Allahabad. Read More
 2 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Album page, Portrait of Shah Jahan, Mughal, first half of 17th century.

This painting depicts the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658) riding on a pale grey horse through a landscape accompanied by a prince behind him, also on horseback, who is presumably his son, Dara Shokuh. Various reta... Read More
 2 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Opaque watercolour, a wrestler at Jahangir's court, Mughal, c. 1615

This painting from the collection of Sir William Rothenstein (1872-1945) depicts a leading wrestler at the court of the Mughal emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627). Jahangir's inscription to the right of the portrait identifies it ... Read More
 2 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Indian black buck by Manohar, India, ca.1615.

The study of an Indian black buck being led by its keeper was painted by the Mughal court artist Manohar, who signed his work on the green ground at top and bottom of the painting. The posture of the ... Read More
 2 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Jahangir receiving Prince Parviz in a garden, Mughal, by Manohar, c.1610-1615.

This painting depicts the Mughal emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) seated in a garden, surrounded by leading members of his court, and receiving his son Prince Parviz. Most of the characters are identified by minute i... Read More
 2 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Manohar, Emperor Jahangir receiving his two sons, an album-painting in gouache on paper

Mughal dynasty, about AD 1605-6
India

Emperor Jahangir (reigned 1605-27) sits under a richly-decorated canopy in a garden, and is served food and drink by his two sons Khusrau and Parviz. Two servants s... Read More
 2 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Humayun's garden party, a painting in gouache and gold on cotton

Mughal dynasty, about AD 1550-55
From Kabul, modern Afghanistan

Painted for the Mughal emperor (reigned 1542-46 and 1555-56)

Temporarily ousted from his throne by rebellious forces, Humayun spent the years 1542-45 in exile... Read More
 2 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
Manohar
Active ca.1582-1620s, at the Mughal courts in Lahore, Delhi, Allahabad and Agra; son of Basawan. Read More
 1 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
A painting of a scribe, dressed in white kneeling on the ground - 1830

Painted in Panjab Hills
Painted on paper

© Trustees of the British Museum Read More
 1 Apr 2013 Rare Paintings
A scribe

Patna, India

Date: ca. 1826

Watercolour

Copyright: © V&A Images Read More
 30 Mar 2013 Rare Paintings
Sculpture of Nandi from a temple at Dracheram - 21 July 1815

Pen and ink drawing of a sculpture of Nandi from Dracheram, by an anonymous artist, part of the MacKenzie Collection and from an album of 37 drawings (43 folios) of sculpture at Jajpur, Puri, Bezwada and Sitanagar made during a journ... Read More
 30 Mar 2013 Rare Paintings
View of Nandidurg, with the batteries firing during the siege - 1791

Water-colour painting of the hill-fort of Nandidrug in Karnataka made during the siege of 1791 by Colin MacKenzie (1754-1821). Inscribed on the front in ink is: 'No.1. View of Nundidroog with the Batteries firing on' 'the Pla... Read More
 26 Mar 2013 Rare Paintings
Painting; gouache and watercolour, Six figures depicting military uniforms, Tanjore, ca. 1830

Copyright: © V&A Images Read More
 26 Mar 2013 Rare Paintings
Painting; gouache and watercolour, of three couples; potter, barber and washerman. Tanjore, ca. 1830

Copyright: © V&A Images Read More
 26 Mar 2013 Rare Paintings
Painting; gouache and watercolour, Three couples; Two Kshatriya couples and a Gujarati couple , from a volume containing thirty folios depicting castes, occupations, methods of cultivation and processions, Tanjore, ca. 1830

Copyright: © V&A Images Read More
 26 Mar 2013 Rare Paintings
Nautch party

Thanjavur, India - 1830 ca.
Watercolour and gouache on paper

Nautch party; a dancing girl followed by six male musicians and three other members of the party. The men are playing hand cymbals, a violin, a flute, a meridanga and a bag pipe. The dancing girl and musicians are dresse... Read More
 25 Mar 2013 Rare Paintings
A depiction of Shiva... from the book:
Truthful detailed description of the famous East India Coast Malabar and Coromandel, and the island of Ceylon.
By Philippus Baldaeus
Published by John Janssonius of Waesberge and Someren in Amsterdam - 1672 Read More
 25 Mar 2013 Rare Paintings
A depiction of Ganesha... from the book:
Truthful detailed description of the famous East India Coast Malabar and Coromandel, and the island of Ceylon.
By Philippus Baldaeus
Published by John Janssonius of Waesberge and Someren in Amsterdam - 1672 Read More