The emperor Timur enthroned, India, Mughal, mid-17th century

gouache with gold on paper, mounted on an album page with borders of cream paper decorated with gold scrolling foliate tenrdils, reverse with four lines of Persian poetry copied by Zabit Khan, with a signature in the upper left corner (upside-down) of William Hutchison

Provenance: The miniature must have been in an English collection in the eighteenth century, as there is a signature on the reverse in ink in an eigtheenth-century English hand "Wm Hutchison".

Sold in these rooms, 26th April 1990, lot 5.

some areas of pigment loss with minor flaking, rubbing and creasing and associated touching in, remounted on later border, vestiges of masking tape on upper edge, minor staining and creases to outer borders, overall fair condition, as viewed
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This miniature is related in style and subject matter to three other mid-17th-century Mughal dynastic portraits. The best-known example is in the British Library (India Office Collection, Johnson Album 64, no.38) by Hashim and shows Timur enthroned with his Mughal royal descendants Babur, Humayun, Akbar and Jahangir (see Falk and Archer 1981, no.83, p.404). The second, in the Fondation Custodia, Paris, shows Timur enthroned with the same Mughal emperors, plus Shah Jahan and three of his offspring - Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja` and Aurangzeb (see Gahlin, 1991, no.36). The third shows Shah Isma`il Safavi with six of his descendants (formerly Kevorkian Collection, sold in these rooms 26th March 1973, lot 15).