- 1182
A DOUBLE-SIDED ILLUSTRATION TO THE TARIKH-I-ALFI: THE HISTORY OF A THOUSAND YEARS
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
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Description
- A DOUBLE-SIDED ILLUSTRATION TO THE TARIKH-I-ALFI: THE HISTORY OF A THOUSAND YEARS
- Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper
- image: 16 1/2 by 8 3/8 in. (41.9 by 21.3 cm);
- folio: 18 5/8 by 9 7/8 in. (42.3 by 25 cm) unframed
A large double-sided folio with illustrations and text on both sides. The leaf damp-stained in the lower half as are many of the other known folios. Recto: a ruler with a minister seated within a palace with a bowl of gold coins. Scholars and dignitaries approaching. Verso: a ruler leaning forward as scholars and dignitaries entreat him.
The “Tarikh-i-Alfi” or “History of a Thousand Years” was written for the Mughal Emperor Akbar between ca. 1582-88 and likely illustrated just after ca. 1588, the illustrations surrounding the panels of text.
As described by Akbar’s minister and historian Abu'l-Fazl in his recounting of the history of Akbar’s reign:
“As his Majesty has become acquainted with the treasure of history, he has ordered several well-informed writers to compose a work containing the events which have taken place in the seven zones for the last one thousand years.” The text recounts a history of the ruling Caliphs through the Islamic period.
The present work is a rare folio. There are only approximately eighteen or so extant leaves known which have been dispersed into museum and private collections worldwide including The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Freer Gallery, The British Museum, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The San Diego Museum of Art and The National Museum New Delhi with folios formerly in the collections of Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck and Edwin Binney III.
For reference see Milo Cleveland Beach, The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court, Freer Gallery, 2012 pp. 77-80, Edwin Binney III, Indian Miniature Painting from the Collection of Edwin Binney III. The Mughal and Deccani Schools, Portland, 1973, p. 38 cat.16, H. Blochmann (trans.) “A’in-i-Akbari” by Abu’l Fazl Allami, Calcutta, 1927/rep. 1993, The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, pp. 141-2 cat. 1966, and Linda York Leach, In the Image of Man, London, 1982, p. 167 cat. 248.
The “Tarikh-i-Alfi” or “History of a Thousand Years” was written for the Mughal Emperor Akbar between ca. 1582-88 and likely illustrated just after ca. 1588, the illustrations surrounding the panels of text.
As described by Akbar’s minister and historian Abu'l-Fazl in his recounting of the history of Akbar’s reign:
“As his Majesty has become acquainted with the treasure of history, he has ordered several well-informed writers to compose a work containing the events which have taken place in the seven zones for the last one thousand years.” The text recounts a history of the ruling Caliphs through the Islamic period.
The present work is a rare folio. There are only approximately eighteen or so extant leaves known which have been dispersed into museum and private collections worldwide including The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Freer Gallery, The British Museum, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The San Diego Museum of Art and The National Museum New Delhi with folios formerly in the collections of Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck and Edwin Binney III.
For reference see Milo Cleveland Beach, The Imperial Image: Paintings for the Mughal Court, Freer Gallery, 2012 pp. 77-80, Edwin Binney III, Indian Miniature Painting from the Collection of Edwin Binney III. The Mughal and Deccani Schools, Portland, 1973, p. 38 cat.16, H. Blochmann (trans.) “A’in-i-Akbari” by Abu’l Fazl Allami, Calcutta, 1927/rep. 1993, The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, pp. 141-2 cat. 1966, and Linda York Leach, In the Image of Man, London, 1982, p. 167 cat. 248.
Condition
Recto: Water staining and wear as visible in catalog illustration, particularly on the extremities and down the left part of the painting as well as the lower register. Inpainting visible under black light to parts of the yellow robe worn by the central seated figure, a sliver of the yellow tunic worn by the figure facing him bearing a basket of coins on the lower left, and the yellow sash worn by the standing figure on the extreme center right.
Verso: Water staining and wear, visible in catalog illustration, down right side of painting and in the lower register. Inpainting visible under black light to the yellow sash on the shoulder of the attendant on upper left, portions of the back of the tunic of the standing figure on upper right, the green tunic of the figure wearing a hat on the extreme lower margin and the yellow tunic and yellow sash on the two figures adjacent to him.
Exhibited in a temporary frame.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.