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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1958.144
Title
Portrait of a Lady, copy of a European painting (painting, recto; text, verso), folio from a manuscript
Classification
Albums
Work Type
album folio
Date
18th century
Places
Creation Place: South Asia, India
Culture
Indian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/216103

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper; Late Mughal or Deccan Sultanate Style
Dimensions
28.4 x 19.7 cm (11 3/16 x 7 3/4 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Alpheus Hyatt Purchasing Fund
Accession Year
1958
Object Number
1958.144
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
The recto of this folio features a large, decorative marginal border that contains gold, blue, and red palmettes, flowers, and arabesques. It is followed by a small solid gold border and a border containing scrolling gold flowers and leaves. At the center of the page is a portrait of a European woman. The top and bottom of the portrait are bordered with a small, mint green order containing gold scrolling leaves. The figure is set against a solid dark grey background. She wears a translucent pink-purple shawl with gold trim that is wrapped tightly around her shoulders, but billows behind her back. Her neck is adorned with two pearl chokers and a long pendant necklace that touches the tip of the mint green border. The figure wears large flower earrings with a drop pearl. Her dark hair is parted and tied in a low bun with curly strands that cascade in front of her ears. Small c- and s-shaped curls frame her forehead. She has wide almond-shaped eyes and her lips are tinted red.
The verso features twenty-two lines of Persian prose written in black ink and in nasta‘liq script. There are words and phrases also written in the right hand margins. Late Mughal or Deccan Sultanate Style.

Exhibition History

Verification Level

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu