A Lion Hunt

Object Details

• Artist

  Possibly by Muhammad Sharif

• Court

  Mughal Court

• School/Tradition

  Mughal school

• Provenance

  At least 1945-1946

  Virginia B. Shapley (Mrs. W. H. Shapley) (1911-2003), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1946

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Virginia B. Shapley [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See untitled incoming receipt, dated December 27, 1945, copy in object file. The object was transferred from Virginia B. Shapley to the Freer Gallery of Art for acquisition consideration on December 27, 1945. Object is described as, “Indian miniature painting, 17th century, in frame.”

  Virginia B. Shapley (née Bishop) (1911-2003) was a scientific researcher and editor for the National Science Foundation located in Washington, DC. Her husband, Willis Harlow Shapley (1917-2005), was a specialist in federal research funding and served as the third-ranking administrator during NASA’s Apollo program. The couple resided in Washington, DC with their three children.

  [2] See object file for copy of “Mrs. W. H. Shapley" invoice, issued by Virginia B. Shapley, to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated June 26, 1946, and marked approved on July 11, 1946.

  Research updated February 2, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Arts of the Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas (October 16, 2004 to January 3, 2016)

  Masterworks of Indian Painting (December 13, 1997 to June 13, 1998)

  The Imperial Image: Painting for the Mughal Court (September 25, 1981 to 30 March 1982)

  Indian Art (January 1, 1963 to January 28, 1981)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Virginia B. Shapley (1911-2003)

• Origin

  Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1590s, 1600s

• Name

  Shapley, Virginia B.

• Place

  Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Cats, Art, Animals, Hunting, Reign of Jahangir (1605 - 1627), Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Poetry, Father

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Language

  Nasta?li-q script

• Object Type

  Paintings