A nobleman, probably Husain Quli Khan, Deputy Governor of Dacca, seated smoking on a terrace, attended by two servants
- Object:
- Place of origin:
Murshidabad, India (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
This is thought to be a portrait of Husain Quli Khan, the deputy governor of Dacca (now Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh). He is shown seated under a canopy on a terrace, smoking a huqqa (water-pipe) and attended by two men. Siraj ud-Daula, the Nawab (ruler) of Bengal, envied his wealth and power, and had him murdered in Murshidabad, the capital of Bengal, in 1754.
Physical description
In the painting Husayn Quli Khan is shown seated on a terrace under a 'shamiana' (canopy) and smoking from a huqqa. One of his courtiers, holding a staff, is standing facing him and a servant stands behind with a 'morchhal' (peacock feather fly-whisk). Various courtly accessories can be seen strewn on the floor beside the huqqa, including a sword and a shield. The identification of Husayn Quli Khan is made on the basis of a similar painting with an inscription, formerly in the collection of Dr W. Manley. The composition is common with other courtly paintings of the period depicting the subjects in a relaxed atmosphere.
Place of Origin
Murshidabad, India (made)
Date
ca. 1750-1754 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Gouache on paper
Dimensions
Height: 40.7 cm, Width: 34.2 cm
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Whitechapel Art Gallery: Arts of Bengal, No. 69, p. 45 ISBN 0 85488 047 Skelton, Robert, 'Murshidabad Painting', Marg, Vol. X, No.1, December 1956, pp.10-22
A nobleman, probably Husayn Quli Khan, Deputy Governor of Dacca, seated smoking on a terrace, attended by two servants
Murshidabad/ c.1750-4
The identification is made on the basis of a similar, inscribed painting formerly in the collection of Dr W. Manley. Husayn Quli Khan is described by Ghulam Husayn as a 'handsome, stout black man'. Siraj ud-daula, who envied his wealth and power, had him murdered in the streets of Murshidabad in 1754.
Exhibition History
Arts of Bengal (Whitechapel Art Gallery 30/12/1979-30/09/2011)
Production Note
The painting is in the style of the Mughal provincial court painting, in particular Murshidabad school.
The date of the painting is ascertained from the fact that Husayn Quli Khan was murdered in 1754 in the streets of Murshidabad at the instigation of Siraj ud-Daula.
Materials
Paper
Subjects depicted
Figures; Swords; Shields; Huqqa-smokers
Categories
Paintings
Collection code
SSEA
