Lot 261: PAHARI OR BASOHLI SCHOOL, 18TH CENTURY, A RULER SMOKING A HOOKAH WITH ATTENDANTS.
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This Indian miniature painting is executed in gouache and bodycolour on paper, depicting a nobleman or ruler in profile. The central figure, whose features resemble those of Raja Medini Pal of Basohli, is seated on a decorative carpet and leans against a large pink bolster. He is dressed in a finely patterned white jama and an elaborate turban with a dark feather. The figure is smoking a hookah, with the long, flexible pipe extending to an ornate base being tended by a kneeling servant in a purple garment. Two additional standing attendants are present: one behind the ruler waving a peacock-feather fly-whisk (morchal), and another to the right holding what appear to be folded betel leaves (pan). The scene is set against a flat, vibrant sage-green background with a simple horizontal ground plane, all contained within a wide red border. The work exhibits the stylised features characteristic of the Pahari or Basohli tradition, including large, almond-shaped eyes and bold, opaque colour fields.
Approximately 24.8 x 16.5cm
Condition report:
The painting is in generally fair to good condition, showing signs of age with light toning to the paper. There is visible scuffing and several small areas of pigment loss, particularly concentrated along the edges of the red border and the lower corners. Some minor surface abrasions and light staining are visible on the ground plane. The item is unframed and unmounted.
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