Not currently on display at the V&A

Painting

first half 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, a mauve iris-like flower with touches of yellow rises on a mauve stem from the base of the painting out of an enfolding cluster of long green, twisting pinnate leaves. A black butterfly with white spots dotted with flecks of yellow hovers above it on the left hand side.
The painting is framed with simple strips of buff-coloured paper and black outlines echoed in the margin strips at the edge of the page on the main border of a plain ivory-coloured paper. There is a beige strip of woven textile attached to the inner margin as a gutter for the album binding.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour on paper
Brief description
Painting, Small Clive Album p. 92, a flowering plant with butterfly, opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal, first half 18th century
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, a mauve iris-like flower with touches of yellow rises on a mauve stem from the base of the painting out of an enfolding cluster of long green, twisting pinnate leaves. A black butterfly with white spots dotted with flecks of yellow hovers above it on the left hand side.
The painting is framed with simple strips of buff-coloured paper and black outlines echoed in the margin strips at the edge of the page on the main border of a plain ivory-coloured paper. There is a beige strip of woven textile attached to the inner margin as a gutter for the album binding.
Dimensions
  • Central painting height: 21.1cm
  • Central painting width: 12.5cm
  • Page height: 35.5cm
  • Page width: 23.5cm
Style
Credit line
Gift of Mr. John Goelet
Object history
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.
Historical context
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.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
IS.48:46/B-1956

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Record createdJanuary 15, 2004
Record URL
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