f.60
recto:

Collared falconet, late 17th century.

Painting of a collared falconet, or microhierax caerulescens, facing right on a grassy hummock against a warm yellow background.


verso:

Portraits of two Mughal emperors and two ladies, assembled c. 1750-70.

A composition of four separate paintings divided by an inner border:

[top left] A bust portrait of Bahadur Shah (copied from an early 18th century original) facing right seated behind a jharokha balcony against a dark blue background within a teardrop-shaped frame. The painting is surrounded by a freehand gold trellis pattern.

[top right] A bust portrait of Shah-Jahan as a young man (copied from a mid-17th century original) facing left against a green background, within a teardrop-shaped frame. The painting is surrounded by a freehand gold trellis pattern.

[bottom left] An early 18th century heavily contoured painting of a lady standing on a gold stool facing right wringing out her hair. She wears a translucent muslin skirt embroidered with gold decoration, open at the front. A large lota vessel, ewer and a goblet stand beside her.

[bottom right] Like the previous painting but in reverse, a lady wearing a sheer muslin skirt stands on a gold stool facing left wringing out her hair. A large lota vessel, ewer and goblet stand beside her.


For further information on this album see RCIN 1005069.