Not currently on display at the V&A

Painting

1658-1707 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Painting in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, a Moghul prince is depicted in profile facing right. He stands against a plain buff-coloured background on a washed-in band of green. He is bearded and wears a green and gold turban with a feathered and jewelled sarpeche. He is dressed in a mauve jama sprigged with gold flowers and a fall of green lappets under his right arm. He wears a short orange patka with golden end-borders decorated with red stylised flowers and a fringe. His paijama below has green and gold stripes and he is shod with crimson shoes patterned in gold. He has an ornamented dagger (katar) at his waist and he bears a round shield hanging from a red and white cord from his right shoulder. He is further armed with a curved sword and decorated scabbard and hilt, both of which have white grounds and a meandering foliated design.
The face is delicately modelled and shaded,and appears to have been painted over an initial attempt which has been blocked out with paint.
The painting is framed with two strips of pale brown and navy blue paper picked out with scrolling designs in gold and accented with black, white and blue lines together with narrow strips of gold paper. The painting is pasted onto a border with an ivory-coloured ground painted with alternate red poppies and pink lilies outlined in gold. The outer edges of the border have strips of pale brown paper highlighted with a white line. A pinkish-beige paper strip has been added to the inner edge of the page as a gutter for the binding of the album. The edges of the page have been gilded.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Brief description
Painting, Small Clive Album p. 6, a prince, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, 1658-1707
Physical description
Painting in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, a Moghul prince is depicted in profile facing right. He stands against a plain buff-coloured background on a washed-in band of green. He is bearded and wears a green and gold turban with a feathered and jewelled sarpeche. He is dressed in a mauve jama sprigged with gold flowers and a fall of green lappets under his right arm. He wears a short orange patka with golden end-borders decorated with red stylised flowers and a fringe. His paijama below has green and gold stripes and he is shod with crimson shoes patterned in gold. He has an ornamented dagger (katar) at his waist and he bears a round shield hanging from a red and white cord from his right shoulder. He is further armed with a curved sword and decorated scabbard and hilt, both of which have white grounds and a meandering foliated design.
The face is delicately modelled and shaded,and appears to have been painted over an initial attempt which has been blocked out with paint.
The painting is framed with two strips of pale brown and navy blue paper picked out with scrolling designs in gold and accented with black, white and blue lines together with narrow strips of gold paper. The painting is pasted onto a border with an ivory-coloured ground painted with alternate red poppies and pink lilies outlined in gold. The outer edges of the border have strips of pale brown paper highlighted with a white line. A pinkish-beige paper strip has been added to the inner edge of the page as a gutter for the binding of the album. The edges of the page have been gilded.
Dimensions
  • Central painting height: 19cm
  • Central painting width: 9.5cm
  • Folio height: 35.5cm
  • Folio width: 23.5cm
Style
Credit line
Gift of Mr. John Goelet
Object history
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 a striped Indian brocade, patterned with rows of floral sprigs, possibly made in southern India. The silk may have been cut from a length brought home by the 2nd Lord Clive, who served as Governor of Madras, 1799 to 1803. The album was sold from Powis Castle at Sotheby's sale, 16-18 January 1956, lot 332A.
Production
probably made in the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
IS.48:3/B-1956

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Record createdOctober 2, 2003
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