Painting, Martagon Lily, Small Clive Album p. 1, probably Lucknow, Mughal, first half 18th century

Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, a martagon lily plant with a cluster of sprouting leaves at the base of the flower stalk is painted in watercolour on a plain off-white paper ground. The flowers are painted in orange with detailing loosely hatched in a red pigment, while the leaves and stalk are painted in a pale green colour similarly detailed in a darker tone of green. The painting is framed with strips of green paper outlined with a narrow strip of gold paper and mounted on a plain ivory-coloured border edged in strips of pale brown paper. A strip of woven textile has been added to the left hand edge to act as a gutter for the album binding. The edges of the page are gilded.

Given by Mr John Goelet

This painting is part of the Small Clive Album which is thought to have been given by Shuja ud-daula, the Nawab of Avadh, to Lord Clive during his last visit to India in 1765-67. It contains 56 leaves on which are Mughal paintings, drawings and flower studies on both sides. The album is covered with an Indian silk brocade.It was sold from Powis Castle at Sotheby's sale, 16 to 18 January 1956, lot 332A.

Nominal File: MA/1/G979

This design is ultimately derived from Martagum Pomponeum, plate 15 in Pierre Vallet's Le Jardin du très Chrestien Henri IV', Paris, 1608, see Skelton, R., 'A Decorative Motif in Mughal Art',Aspects of Indian Art, edited by P. Pal, Leiden, 1972, p. 151 and pl. XCb.

possibly made in Avadh

This study of a Martagon Lily is included in the "Small Clive Album", a volume of Indian paintings which is thought to have been given by Shuja ad-Daula, the Nawab of Avadh, to Lord Clive during his last visit to India in 1765-67. It contains 56 folios on which are Mughal paintings, drawings and flower studies dating to the 17th and 18th centuries. The binding is covered with an Indian brocade. The album was given to the museum by Mr John Goelet in 1956.

IS.48:1/A-1956