Ozias Humphry

holding a letter-bag with a red seal, wearing a white chemise and shawl and a coloured turban, gilt-metal frame, glazed reverse

Pepper Staveley, of the Bengal Staff Service;
R.S. Aitchison, by 1918;
Anonymous sale in these Rooms, 19 December 1977, lot 105

Williamson 1918, illustrated facing p. 146;
Foskett 1979/1989, p. 400, pl. 115D

Ivory ground. This miniature is in excellent condition.
"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."

Haidar Beg Khan was the Chief Minister to Asaf-du-daula, Nawab Wazir of Oudh. In his dealings with the East India Company their representatives noted a tendency to put his personal interest before that of his master - a fault to which they themselves were not immune, see lot 53.

This miniature was one of a group of portraits painted in 1786 by Humphry in Lucknow of members of the court of Oudh. On the 12 June the Chief Minister granted the artist a half hour sitting, pressure of work precluding further sessions. Nonetheless within this short period Humphry succeeded in capturing the forceful and reportedly duplicitous character of the sitter. For this portrait and for other work at Lucknow Humphry submitted an account of 47,000 rupees; the Nawab Wazir graciously rounded the figure up to 50,000 rupees but then failed to pay in full.

Three other versions of this portrait are extant: a sketch in the Turner collection; a completed miniature, signed and dated 1786, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (Evans collection, no. 142); and the third, neither signed nor dated, sold Christie's London 28 May 2002, lot 143 (there erroneously identified as the present miniature).