Equestrian Portrait of Jahangir
Image
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IIIF
Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
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Period
ca. 1900 -
Geography
India -
Material
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper -
Dimension
H x W: 35.5 x 27.3 cm (14 x 10 3/4 in) -
Accession Number
S1986.414 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_S1986.414
Object Details
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Description
Album folio; Equestrian Portrait of Jahangir; recto: single-page portrait, inscription consists of the name of Shah Jahangir in the margin; verso: two couplets from the Diwan of Hafiz; Persian in black nasta'liq script; corners embellished with triangular illuminated panels.Border: The recto is set in gold and black rulings followed by a dark blue, gold-sprinkled frame, mounted on cream-colored paperboard. The verso is set in gold and black rulings in a dark blue, gold-sprinkled border, mounted on cream-colored paperboard. -
Marks
Old Matting: no. 71 – aixx Dec. 32, written in pencilOld Matting: Vever 304, written in pencilOld Matting: Collection H. Vever, written in pencilOld Matting: Collection Henri Vever – Paris, written in black inkOld Matting: Portrait de Jahangir (1605-1672) sultan, written in black inkOld Matting: (commencement du XVII ͤ S.), written in black inkOld Matting, exterior backing: aipx, written in black inkOld Matting, exterior backing: aipx, written in black ink -
Inscriptions
Stamps: blue-edged, 1367; inscription (S1986.414a): Shâh Jahângîr; inscription (S1986.414b); text: 2 lines (4 hemistiches) by Hafiz (injavi end., p. 78): Yâr mafurosh ba dunyâ ki basî sûd nakard/ ânki Yûsef ba zar-i nâsara bifrûkhta bûd/ Guft u khush guft biraw khirqa bisozân Hâfiz/ yâ rab în qalbshinâsi zi ki âmûkhta bûd? [Do not sell your friend out for the world/ for he who sold Joseph for filthy lucre did not gain much profit./ Thus he spoke, and how well he spoke when he said,/ "Go burn your devilish cloak, Hafiz."/ O Lord, from whom did he learn to read minds like this?]Recto, along bottom border: N ͦ 4, written in pencilRecto, along the right border: X, written in pencilVerso: octagonal sticker with blue border, 1367 written in blue inkVerso: octagonal sticker with blue border, 1367 written in blue ink -
Provenance
?-1932Indjoudjian Frères, method of acquisition unknown [1]1932Sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot “Objets d’art du Proche-Orient des grandes époques … provenant de la collection de Indjoudjian" December 19, 1932, lot 71 [2]1932-1942Henri Vever (1854-1942), purchased at the Indjoudjian Sale [3]1942-1947Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [4]1947-1986Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [5]From 1986Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [6]Notes:[1] See note 2. Indjoudjian Frères was an antiquities dealership based in Paris and New York, owned by the Armenian-born brothers Agop (1871-1951) and Meguerditch (1884-1927).[2] See Hôtel Drouot “Objets d’art du Proche-Orient des grandes époques … provenant de la collection de Indjoudjian" [auction catalogue] (Paris: December 19, 1932), lot 71. The work is described as “Portrait de Jahangir, Sultan Grand Mogol (1605-1672), à cheval. Superbe enluminure gouachée. Art hindou du commencement du XVII ? siècle."[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. Vever purchased this work at purchased at the Indjoudjian Sale on December 19, 1932, see annotations on the work’s old matting.[4] 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.[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 work is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 4.[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 August 14, 2023. -
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection -
Previous custodian or owner
Indjoudjian FreresHenri 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
There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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