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Lot Essay
INSCRIPTIONS:
On the verso in the top right 'amal-i Bhavani Das 'The work of Bhavani Das';
Parallel devanagari and nasta'liq inscriptions below. The latter likely added later and summarises the contents of the Hindi text with minor variations 'The horse is property of Iláhyār Khān. Brought by Sulṭān Naẓar Khān Bābur. His account is given later. The horse is a lākhaurī kumait (bay horse), musky (dark bay) in appearance. This colour does not indicate speed. The nape inclines to red.'
As the Mughal state became unable to support the artistic production of previous centuries, many artists including Bhavani Das sought patronage in smaller regional courts in the early eighteenth century. Bhavani Das arrived in Kishangarh in 1719, quickly becoming the highest-paid state employee. A highly skilled draughtsman, Bhavani Das is recognised for his highly refined treatment of human subjects and rendering of horses. The present work is one of only two known works ascribed to the artist - the other is a painting of the piebald stallion Jukaldan Ayragi which sold Sotheby’s, New York, 2 June 1992, lot 149. From these two works, a number of other works have been attributed to Bhavani Das which are listed by Toby Falk (The Kishangarh Artist Bhavani Das, Artibus Asiae, 1992, vol. 52, No ½). A portrait of the royal stallion Laldan Bebaha attributed to Bhavani Das and formerly in the Sven Gahlin Collection was sold Sotheby’s, London, 26 October 2022, lot 73 whilst a portrait of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, also attributed to Bhavani Das, was sold in these Rooms, 10 June 2015, lot 13.
On the verso in the top right 'amal-i Bhavani Das 'The work of Bhavani Das';
Parallel devanagari and nasta'liq inscriptions below. The latter likely added later and summarises the contents of the Hindi text with minor variations 'The horse is property of Iláhyār Khān. Brought by Sulṭān Naẓar Khān Bābur. His account is given later. The horse is a lākhaurī kumait (bay horse), musky (dark bay) in appearance. This colour does not indicate speed. The nape inclines to red.'
As the Mughal state became unable to support the artistic production of previous centuries, many artists including Bhavani Das sought patronage in smaller regional courts in the early eighteenth century. Bhavani Das arrived in Kishangarh in 1719, quickly becoming the highest-paid state employee. A highly skilled draughtsman, Bhavani Das is recognised for his highly refined treatment of human subjects and rendering of horses. The present work is one of only two known works ascribed to the artist - the other is a painting of the piebald stallion Jukaldan Ayragi which sold Sotheby’s, New York, 2 June 1992, lot 149. From these two works, a number of other works have been attributed to Bhavani Das which are listed by Toby Falk (The Kishangarh Artist Bhavani Das, Artibus Asiae, 1992, vol. 52, No ½). A portrait of the royal stallion Laldan Bebaha attributed to Bhavani Das and formerly in the Sven Gahlin Collection was sold Sotheby’s, London, 26 October 2022, lot 73 whilst a portrait of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, also attributed to Bhavani Das, was sold in these Rooms, 10 June 2015, lot 13.