Audience scene

Object Details

• Description

  Detached album folio; Audience scene; later addition date at the top right corner of the painting.

  Border: The painting is set in gold and black rulings surrounded by a red inner frame and a pink floral scroll outer frame, mounted on a green-colored paperboard with floral motifs.

• Marks

  Old matting, backing: no. 171 written in black ink

  Old matting, backing: Princes hindous sur une terrasse written in black ink

  Old matting, backing: Dehli XVII ͤ written in black ink

  Old matting, backing: ipax written in black ink

  Old matting, backing: 22 written in pencil (faded)

  Old matting, backing: 22 written in pencil (faded)

• Inscriptions

  Recto: 311 written in pencil, lower right corner

  Verso: 2 written in pencil

  Verso: 2 written in pencil

• Provenance

  ?-1942

  Henri Vever (1854-1942), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1942-1947

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [2]

  1947-1986

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [3]

  From 1986

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [4]

  Notes:

  [1] An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. Its unclear when and from where Vever acquired this work, but it was in his collection at the time of his death.

  [2] Upon Henri Vever’s death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the work. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.

  [3] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family’s assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as “The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts.” This work is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 2.

  [4] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.

  Research updated January 22, 2024.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Henri Vever (1854-1942)

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1740s, 1760s

• Name

  Mautin, Francois Albert, Monthiers, Jeanne Louise, Vever, Henri

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Henri Vever collection, Flowers

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings