A seated courtier

Object Details

• Court

  Mughal Court

• School/Tradition

  Mughal school

• Description

  Detached album leaf; tinted drawing; A seated courtier; Persian in black nasta'liq script, inscription on the top reads: The back of Akbar; mounted on paperboard.

• Marks

  Old Matting: Shaikh Mihr, written in pencil

  Old Matting: Shaikh Mihr, written in pencil

• Inscriptions

  On the top: The back of Akbar

• Provenance

  ?-1913

  Léonce Rosenberg (1879 1947), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1913 -1942

  Henri Vever (1854-1942), likely purchased from Léonce Rosenberg [2]

  1942-1947

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [3]

  1947-1986

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [4]

  From 1986

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [5]

  Notes:

  [1] ] Léonce Rosenberg was an art collector, writer, publisher, and influential art dealer.

  Léonce and his younger brother, Paul (1881-1959) joined their father, Alexandre Rosenberg (d. 1913) in running the family’s art gallery, selling works of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. After their father retired, the brothers parted ways, opening their own, independent galleries. Léonce opened Haute Epoque at 19 Rue de la Baume, where he sold numerous types of works, including French antiquities, archeological pieces, and works on paper . Eventually, he became a champion of Cubist art and opened a new gallery, l’Effort Moderne.

  Vever purchased this work from Rosenberg on June 14, 1913. See Henri Vever Account Ledger, June 14, 1913, FSA A1988.042.2, from Henri Vever Papers, National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Vever describes this work as part of “3 dessins indo-persan au trait, portraits” that he purchased at Rosenberg’s Parisian apartment at 22 rue Lavoisier.

  [2] 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. This work remained in Vever’s collection at the time of his death.

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

  [4] 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 object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.

  [5] 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 on May 11, 2023.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  A Jeweler's Eye: Islamic Arts of the Book from the Vever Collection (November 20, 1988 to April 30, 1989)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Léonce Rosenberg (1879-1947)

  Henri Vever (1854-1942)

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

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

• Type

  Album

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1650s, 1670s

• Name

  Mautin, Francois Albert, Rosenberg, Léonce, Vever, Henri

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Henri Vever collection, Men, Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Courtier

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Albums