Physical description

The painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, shows a branch from a cherry tree with leaves and clusters of orange fruits. It is painted in washes of watercolour with the modelling achieved with loose hatchings and cross-hatchings in darker tones. It is painted against the plain off-white ground of the paper and it is framed with a plain inner border of strips of faded buff-coloured paper with black ruled outlines on the plain ivory-coloured ground of the page. The margins of the page have strips of greenish-grey paper with a double row of black outlines pasted on their inner edges. A strip of beige woven textile has been added to the inner edge as a gutter for the album binding.

Place of Origin

Mughal Empire (made)
Avadh (possibly, made)

Date

first half 18th century (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Painted in opaque watercolour on paper

Marks and inscriptions

the numeral '37' is inscribed in pencil
top right hand corner of the page

Dimensions

Height: 21.3 cm central painting, Width: 11 cm central painting

Object history note

This miniature painting is part of the Small Clive Album of Indian miniatures 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 miniature paintings, drawing and flower studies on both sides. The binding is covered with an Indian brocade silk that may have been cut from lengths 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 to 18 January 1956, lot 332A.

Descriptive line

Painting, Small Clive Album p. 73, a branch of cherries, opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal, possibly Avadh, first half 18th century

Materials

Opaque watercolour; Paint; Paper

Techniques

Painted

Subjects depicted

Cherries; Plants

Categories

Paintings; Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project

Collection

South & South East Asia Collection