Johnson 16,1

The Good Shepherd.

Mughal, c.1610-20 (with later additions).

Richard Johnson Collection. Purchased 1807.

Inscribed on background in Persian (in same hand as J.18,11 and J.64,40): ‘kar-i ustad miskin’ (the work of the master Miskin); Persian inventory note (not numbered).

Gouache with gold; on an album leaf with blue and grey borders.

125 by 83 mm; page 325 by 212 mm.

Reverse: three ‘baits’ in’ nasta‘liq’ calligraphy, written diagonally with two birds at the corners; 18th century.

Reproduced: Maclagan (1932), facing p.23.

Carrying a lamb upon his shoulders, the Good Shepherd with ginger beard wears a European hat and a blue robe, his feet bare, and a gold frame tied about his waist; yellow background.

Note: There are signs of this picture having been repainted and subsequently flaking away again. The attribution to Miskin is written beneath this repaint and so could be accurate as applied to the original drawing beneath. The subject derives from an engraving by Raphael Sadeler (Devapriam (1972), figs.121 and 122).