Slice of Mughal history to be auctioned tomorrow

From Mumbai Mirror

Rare life-sized portrait of Emperor Jehangir, which captures his love for the good life, to go under the hammer at London. It is expected to fetch nearly Rs 10 crore

Danish Khan

Posted On Monday, April 04, 2011 at 03:45:14 AM

In London On London’s famed Oxford Street, the light morning rain has given way to a bright afternoon sun, lifting shoppers’ spirits. The shoppers were, however, unmindful that luxury stores on high street had nothing compared to what was inside at the Bonhams auction house nearby. On Tuesday, a fortunate soul among a very select, exclusive set of art connoisseurs and collectors will be the proud owner of a unique life-sized portrait of Mughal Emperor Nur-ud-din Jehangir. The portrait, the largest known Mughal painting, will go under the hammer, and is expected to fetch between £1 million and £1.5 million (Rs 10.67 crore-Rs 7.11 crore), the portrait vividly captures the power, luxury, desire and aspirations of the celebrated emperor Jehangir. The painting was made when Emperor Jehangir was in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh in 1617. An Ottoman gilt bridle (right), breast-plate and brupper taken from the residential quarters of Tipu Sultan The Islamic and Indian Art auction has 387 objects on sale, but all eyes are set upon the portrait which is the pride of the lot. “The painting is a rarity and when it was last sold at Sotheby’s in 1995, it broke the world record for any Indian painting,” said head of Indian and Islamic Art at Bonhams, Alice Bailey. When Mumbai Mirror visited Bonhams, the other artefacts and antiques were still pushed around and being set up in preparation for D-day. The portrait, however, had neatly found its place resting against a serene white wall under carefully-selected spotlights. It was as if the portrait had itself found a place commensurate with the regal splendour of Jehangir. Painter was a close confidante of the Emperor While no definite information is available, it is believed that the portrait, by artist Abul Hasan, must have taken a few months to complete. The painting was executed while Jehangir was in Mandu (Madhya Pradesh) in 1617, on a fine-woven cotton canvas. Jehangir was the more romantic of the Mughal emperors, a true lover of art and architecture. Abul Hasan was one of Jahangir’s closest confidantes and favourite courtiers. While at Mandu, another painting of a female hunter, believed to be of his wife Nur Jahan, was made by Hasan, which amply proves the faith and confidence he enjoyed. By a layman’s observation, Hasan’s portrait of Jehangir is a study of globalisation in the 17th century. He is shown to be sitting, not on a regular Mughal throne but on an Indo-Portuguese throne. His feet rest on fine, delicate Persian rug intended to make a statement. Jehangir is wearing an embroidered floral tunic over a patka and striped pyjama. The portrait shows plastered jewellery had been applied, half of which according to Bailey, has gone missing. The ring on one of his fingers on the left hand is still there, while only the remains of rings on the other three fingers are visible. Historians widely believed that Jehangir loved alcohol and the elegant portrait reveals his passion. The wine bottle, cups and glass are from Venice and China which show the emperor’s love for luxury. Gold was lavishly used in the costumes and throne. It is not just the material things that interested the Mughals. They took pleasure in calling themselves ‘Shadow of God on Earth’ and were keen to be remembered for their appreciation of knowledge, spirituality and conquests. Thus, Jehangir’s head, not surprisingly, has a ‘halo’ representing the sun and his divine nature. His hand has the earth, which completes the combination of the spiritual and earthly worlds. For the benefit of those with a lesser eye for detail, the border of the portrait with 26 cartouches of Nastaliq inscription says it all. Written in Persian, which was the court language, it starts with the praise for Allah and goes on to describe Jehangir in the choicest of adjectives. Tipu Sultan’s artefacts will also be auctioned An Indian and Islamic Art auction would be incomplete without Tipu Sultan’s artefacts. In 1799, when Tipu Sultan was killed fighting the British, his Seringapatam palace was ransacked and looted. Hundreds of artefacts, antiques and royal items went to the Britishers. And even to this day, they keep on appearing at auctions. Sir Stapleton Cotton, who led a regiment against Tipu Sultan in 1799, brought to England a horse bridle and breast plate belonging to the Mysore lion. According to Bailey, these items were “specially recorded as being Tipu’s personal property”. Made in Turkey of red morocco, they are expected to go for anywhere between £60,000 and £90,0000 (between Rs 43 lakh and Rs 64 lakh). Interestingly, it is believed that these items were not ordered by Tipu Sultan himself but were received as a gift from the Ottoman Sultan. There are several other paintings, artefacts, rare copies of the Quran, swords and daggers that dazzle the well-lit but still-to-be-set-up room. The other magnificent piece that is the cynosure of all eyes is a Mughal emerald seal belonging to Major Alexander Hannay, an officer of the East India Company. The emerald is set in a diamond-encrusted gold bangle and bears the name of Hannay. It is expected to fetch between £30,000 and £50,000 (Rs 21 lakh and 36 lakh). The room at Bonhams where all the items are being kept