Lot 311: INDIAN SCHOOL, 19TH CENTURY, A PAINTING OF A COBRA.
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A 19th-century Indian School painting executed in watercolor on paper. The composition features a stylized, coiled cobra (Naja naja) set against a minimalist, off-white background. The serpent is rendered with a deep terracotta-red body decorated with a repeating pattern of bright green spots. The underside of the snake is depicted in white with fine, horizontal black lines representing ventral scales. The flared hood shows two dark ocellated markings or ‘eyes’ bordered in white and dark red. The head is shown in profile with a single visible eye and a thin, red forked tongue. The work exhibits the bold outlines and flat application of colour characteristic of Company School or regional Indian natural history studies from the period. The painting is presented in a wide tan-coloured mat within a dark wood frame featuring a gilt inner slip.
Approximately 32.3 x 27.2cm
Condition report:
The paper shows light vertical creasing and undulation across the sheet, consistent with age and the nature of the handmade paper (photo 1). There is mild toning to the paper ground, most visible at the edges near the mat. The pigments appear well-preserved with no significant fading or loss visible in the photograph. The frame shows minor surface scuffs and dust accumulation, but the glazing and mounting appear stable and secure (photo 1).
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