Akbar with a Sarpech, from the Late Shahjahan Album

Object Details

• Court

  Mughal Court

• School/Tradition

  Mughal school

• Provenance

  ?-?

  Galerie Manzi-Joyant, Paris, France, mode of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-1910

  Georges Demotte (1877-1923), method of acquisition unknown [2]

  1913-1942

  Henri Vever (1854-1942), purchased from Georges Demote [3]

  1942-1947

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [4]

  1947-1986

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [5]

  From 1986

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [6]

  Notes:

  [1] On the work's matting, one can identify Galerie Manzi-Joyant marks, including the "MJ" initials and an annotation, "Compte à dessin Manzi Joyant."

  [2] This work is likely one of a group of seven miniatures that Henri Vever purchased from Demotte in January 1910. Vever describes the group as "7 miniatures indo-persanes." See Henri Vever Account Ledger, January 1910, FSA A1988.042.2, from Henri Vever Papers. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Georges Demotte was a collector and dealer of Islamic and medieval European art. He had galleries in Paris and New York City.

  [3] 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 object was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.

  [4] 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.

  [5] 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.

  [6] 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 March 28, 2023.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Pearls on a String: Artists, Patrons, and Poets at the Great Islamic Courts (November 08, 2015 to January 31, 2016)

  Akbar The Great Emperor of India (October 23, 2012 to February 3, 2013)

  Imperial Portraits from the Mughal Courts from the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution (June 30 to September 22, 2002)

  Arts of Mughal India (1992) (May 24 to December 6, 1992)

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Francois Mautin (1907-2003)

  Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)

  Henri Vever (1854-1942)

  Georges Demotte (1877-1923)

  Galerie Manzi-Joyant

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

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

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1640s, 1660s

• Name

  Mautin, Francois Albert, Monthiers, Jeanne Louise, Demotte, Georges, Vever, Henri, Galerie Manzi-Joyant

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Reign of Shah Jahan (1628 - 1658), Landscapes, Art, Henri Vever collection, Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Angels, Crane, Courtier

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts