Saint Cecilia
Painting
first half 17th century (made)
first half 17th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The Mughal emperors collected European paintings and engravings, many of which were brought to the court in the late 16th and early 17th century by successive Jesuit missions who travelled to Delhi, Agra and Lahore from Portuguese Goa. The artists employed by the emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605) often copied these exotic works of art. This painting of the Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia is a close copy of an engraving by Jerome [Hieronymus] Wierix. The painting is ascribed to a female artist, Nini, whose work is otherwise unknown. It is mounted on a decorated page formerly bound in an album compiled for Shah Jahan.
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Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Saint Cecilia (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper |
Brief description | Painting, Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia, by Nini, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, first half 17th century |
Physical description | Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, the martyrdom of Saint Cecilia. Saint Cecilia lies on the floor, expiring, in front of a female companion who reaches towards her neck. A second moves forward with a glass bowl of water and sponge. A putto at left flies towards her carrying a crown. The nimbate figure of Christ hovers in the clouds above. |
Dimensions |
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Content description | The martyrdom of Saint Cecilia. Saint Cecilia lies on the floor, expiring, in front of a female companion who reaches towards her neck and while a second moves forward with a glass bowl of water and sponge. A putto at left flies towards her carrying a crown. The nimbate figure of Christ hovers in the clouds above. |
Style | |
Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Bequeathed by Lady Wantage |
Object history | The painting is mounted on a page with decorated borders from an album made for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Part of the bequest of the Right Honourable Harriet Sarah Baroness Wantage, of Locking House, Wantage Berks, widow of the first and last Baron Wantage, V.C., K.C.B., V.D. R.P. 1920-8342, 1920-5869, 1921-3081, 1921-177 |
Production | Another version of this painting is in the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, City Palace, Jaipur (see Asok Kumar Das, Treasures of Indian Painting, Series Two, Plate IV). |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | The Mughal emperors collected European paintings and engravings, many of which were brought to the court in the late 16th and early 17th century by successive Jesuit missions who travelled to Delhi, Agra and Lahore from Portuguese Goa. The artists employed by the emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605) often copied these exotic works of art. This painting of the Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia is a close copy of an engraving by Jerome [Hieronymus] Wierix. The painting is ascribed to a female artist, Nini, whose work is otherwise unknown. It is mounted on a decorated page formerly bound in an album compiled for Shah Jahan. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | IM.139A-1921 |
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Record created | May 17, 2013 |
Record URL |
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