Amarsingh

A painting attributed in Jahangir's own handwriting to Bishin Das, c.1624 Source: http://search.sothebys.com/jsps/live/lot/LotDetail.jsp?lot_id=4DV92 (downloaded Mar. 2005) "PORTRAIT OF AMR SINGH OF MEWAR, ATTRIBUTED IN THE HAND OF THE EMPEROR JAHANGIR TO THE ARTIST BISHIN DAS AND DATED A.H. 1034/A.D. 1624, VERSO WITH CALLIGRAPHIC PANEL SIGNED BY MIR 'ALI, IRAN, 16TH CENTURY, MUGHAL, INDIA, CIRCA 1645-50. Measurements note: panels 23.5 by 16.5 and 14cm. leaf 38.5 by 27.5cm. DESCRIPTION: gouache heightened with gold on paper, the recto with central portrait on mint-green ground, bordered by alternating bands of foliate motifs and cloud scrolls in black against a gold ground, within plain gold outer border, on buff leaf painted with seven figures and floral sprays in gold, verso with 5 lines of elegant black nasta'liq calligraphy signed by Mir 'Ali, in cloud bands reserved on gold with scrolling foliate motif in colours, margins with floral sprays in colours highlighted with gold. CATALOGUE NOTE: This leaf is derived from the so-called "Late Shah Jahan" album, a significant collection of poetry and portraits, leaves from which give a unique insight into contemporary Mughal politics a