Asaf Khan (d.1641). Mughal, c.1640. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Inscribed at top in Persian: ‘shabih-i asaf jah pidar-i nur jahan begum’ (a likeness of Asaf Jah, father of Nur Jahan Begum); numbered 22 in Persian inventory note. Drawing; gouache and gold added at Lucknow, c....
Aurangzeb before a window. Mughal, c.1700. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Tinted drawing, on an album leaf with blue and pink borders. 223 by 145 mm; page 377 by 248 mm. Reverse: a page of 14 lines of ‘masnavi’ verse with gilt decoration; dated AH1158/AD1745. Aurangzeb kneels...
Aurangzeb on horseback. Deccan, c.1680. Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807. Inscribed on sky in Persian: ‘shabih-i ‘alamgir shah’ (a likeness of ‘Alamgir Shah); numbered 46 in Persian inventory note. Originally a drawing with some gold and colouring; a later Deccani artist has colou...
Megha Malar Raga. An ascetic sits under an umbrella outside a shrine. A ‘vina’ is in the shrine and a gold serpentine trumpet is outside with a bowl, axe and pot; rainclouds are gathered above. Inscriptions on reverse: (1) Persian inscription erased; (2) Persian: ‘rag megh malar’; (3) Hindi: ...
Desakari Ragini. A lady is seated on a garden terrace with a mirror before her, a maid standing behind her combing her hair. Inscriptions on reverse: (1) Persian: ‘devkari’; (2) Hindi: ‘megh malhar ki ragini devakari’; (3) Hindi ‘doha’ and ‘kabita’ by Harivallabha naming the subject as ‘desaka...
Nata Ragini. A battle scene where a mounted prince wounds a foot-soldier having already slain another. Inscriptions on reverse: (1) Urdu:’ nat’ and the time of day in Persian; (2) Urdu: ‘nat’; (3) Hindi: ‘rag nat’; (4) Sanskrit verse (3 lines); (5) Hindi ‘doha’ and ‘kabita by’ Harivallabha (6 ...
Tanka Ragini. A prince arrives on a terrace to meet his lady who sits on a lotus-petal bed beneath an awning, with her girls in attendance; one of the girls has taken care of the prince’s dagger.
Desakari Ragini. A couple sit embracing on a bed beneath a red awning. There are fountains, and a carpet with cushions on the terrace in the foreground; a border of narcissus is on the near side of the terrace fence.
Reverse: eight black and white birds are perched in a tree with Harivallabha’s Hindi verses written on their bodies; the Persian identification is written on the trunk of the tree.
Reverse: eight birds are perched in, and alighting around, a tree with Harivallabha’s Hindi verses written on their bodies; the Persian identification is written on the trunk of the tree.
