AFTER LA’L CHAND, MUGHAL INDIA, MID 17TH CENTURY

The very intricate turban seen here with the large emerald at the front and the pair of feathers extending at the rear, along with the fine jewellery worn by Aurangzeb are very similar to a portrait of Aurangzeb signed by La’l Chand and dated to circa 1640-45 in the Chester Beatty Library (Linda York Leach, Mughal and other Indian Paintings from the Chester Beatty Library, vol.I, London, 1995, p.470, cat.3.80). Both of the portraits depicts Aurangzeb in fairly muted gold outlined robes reserving the use of colour for the patka and to highlight his extensive jewellery. La’l Chand is recorded as having worked on numerous albums at the court of Jahangir including the Wantage, Minto and Kevorkian albums, the Padshahnama and the Nasir al-Din Shah album. A painting from the Ardeshir album singed by La’l Chand was sold in these Rooms, 26 April 2012, lot 16.