Tinted drawing, Large Clive Album, young noble holding brocade envelope, ink, watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, mid 18th century

A young noble stands on flower-sprinkled grass, facing left against a pale green ground with blue sky and clouds lightly painted above. He wears a white jama with gold florets, a gold brocade patka decorated with flowering plants, a red turban and yellow boots. He holds out a narrow brocade envelope presumably containing a petition. He has a large circular shield, and a dagger and sword both with enamelled hilts and red velvet covered scabbards. A Persian inscription in gold in the sky above his head identifies him as 'Khwaja Bihbud' and has the number 23.. It is mounted on a gold-sprinkled page that has the number '94' written in pencil on the top right corner.

A young noble holding a sealed brocade envelope.

Accepted by HM Government in lieu of inheritance tax and allocated to the V&A, 1964

This album of 104 folios known as the Clive Album was formerly the property of the Earl of Powis, Powis Castle. (RP 1959/1747)

The young man in this painting from the Clive Album is identified in a Persian inscription in gold above his head as 'Khwaja Bihbud'. He was presumably attached to the Mughal court of Delhi, or to the court of Awadh, where this album was compiled in the late 18th century.
He carries a fine dagger and sword, both with gold enamelled hilts and red velvet scabbards, as well as a large shield that seems to have jewelled bosses. He holds out a slim brocade covered envelope, presumably containing a petition to an unseen recipient.

IS.133:94/A-1964